Naoum Aronson (1872-1943) - Büste, Portrait of Lev Tolstoy - Meroni Radice Foundry, Paris - 18 cm - Patinierte Bronze - 1902

Rare and remarkable bronze portrait bust by Naoum Aronson (1872-1943), one the renowned sculptors of the early 20th century who realized the portraits of many important personalities of his time, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Louis Pasteur, Leo Tolstoy, Grigori Rasputin, and Vladimir Lenin.

This exceptional work portrays Lev Tolstoy and is hand-signed by the artist "Aronson" and dated in 1902.
The bust, standing 18 cm tall, boasts exquisite color and verdigris patination, showcasing Aronson's mastery.
The back features the cast "Meroni Radice, Cire Perdue, Paris" by the esteemed foundry that Aronson collaborated with.
With its exceptional condition and accompanying certification of authenticity, this piece is a true masterpiece.
Secure national and international shipping via express courier with a traceable package is available.

Naum Aronson traveled to Yasnaya Polyana in Russia at the turn of the 20th century to create a bronze bust of Lev Tolstoy. Aronson initially crafted a remarkable clay bust of Tolstoy's wife, which impressed Tolstoy and led to Aronson sketching him while he worked on his "Hadji-Murat" novel.
Unlike other artists who created bronzes of Tolstoy the vision with this creation was to portray Tolstoy as a man in deep thought, a contemplating philosopher.
After finishing the bust Aronson returned to France with his clay model, over 60 sketches, and many memories of the world-famous personality. At this point in time (1901-1902) Aronson refined his creation and proceeded to cast it in bronze.
Aronson’s bust of Lev Tolstoy was first exhibited at the Fine Arts Academy in St. Petersburg in the spring of 1902 and was met with great success and approval.
Only a few known examples of this bronze bust are in private collections today.

Naoum Aronson was born in 1872 to a Jewish family in Krāslava, in the Vitebsk Governorate of the Russian Empire (present-day Latvia) in 1872. He studied art at the Vilna Art School before moving to Paris, where he would live for 50 years. He maintained six galleries in Paris but kept his prize pieces, including the bust of Rasputin, in his Montparnasse studio. After the German invasion of France in 1940, he was forced to flee the country. When he arrived in New York City as a refugee in March 1941 aboard the liner Serpa Pinto, he had little more than some photographs of the sculptures he had left behind in France. He died two years later in his Upper West Side studio at 71.