WASHINGTON IRVING

Art

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

WASHINGTON IRVING

Entry/Object ID

SS.2011.76

Description

One-and-one-half times life-size fully modeled bust of Washington Irving as a young man c. 1832; rough surface overall; rectangular base, flaring up into wide shoulders cut away into curves at sides and front; double-breasted frock coat with shawl lapels, surface texture suggests swirling pattern in coat; high-collared buttoned shirt; narrow double-wrapped cravatte, tied into a loose short bow; head turned to proper right; fully modeled alert face; deep valley at both sides at bridge of nose; wavy hair worn with slight sideburns; back cut sharply away from shoulders to base; inscription on back of base: "G. L. Sussman, 1982"; below inscription, large blob of bronze with impressed artist's fingerprint.

Artwork Details

Medium

Bronze

Subject Person or Organization

Washington Irving (1783-1859)

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

G. L. Sussman

Attribution

Artist

Date made

1982

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

(See Description)

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

29 in

Width

24 in

Depth

15 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 29 x 24 x 15 in. (73.7 x 61 x 38.1 cm)

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Overall good; some areas of verdigris, consistent with object's use in an outdoor setting for many years; areas of verdigris at proper right side of tie, sides of nose; eyes; eybrows, down chin and throughout hair; leaf matter and spider casings (removed from tie bow and shirt front); rusty area along top of collar and at proper left side of base.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Washington Irving (1783-1859)

Notes

Subject

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

This object was acessioned in 2011, but was acquired earlier. According to Kate Eagen Johnson (former Curator) and Dina Friedman (Sunnyside Site Director), the bust of Irving (one of two) was commissioned in the early 1980s by Joseph A. Rice for the Irving Trust bank. In addition to serving as a the chairman and CEO of Irving Trust bank, Mr. Rice is also a long-time member of the HHV Board of Trustees. For some years, the bust was on display in the lobby of the Irving Trust bank in Manhattan (One World Trade), but was removed when the bank was acquired by the Bank of New York (this occured in 1988). At that time or shortly thereafter, Mr. Rice made a gift of the bust to HHV. The bust was installed outdoors in the courtyard at Sunnyside on a cement plinth in the northwest corner of the courtyard, near the gift shop. The bust quickly became a beloved fixture at the site. It provided a photo opportunity for visitors and was occcasionally decorated with a red bow for Candlelight and the Christmas season. The bust remained in place at Sunnyside until 2011 when it was removed for display in the new HHV headquarters at 639 Bedford Road. Jessa J. Krick (Collections Manager) was not able to determine that the bust had been accessioned prior to 2011 and so the bust was cataloged and given a 2011 accession number. Additional information about the donation to HHV may be added to the record if found in the institutional archives or gathered from additional sources [Jessa J. Krick, Collections Manager, 9/24/2012]. Additonal copies of the bust are believed to be located in the Museum of the Bank of New York (Manhattan) and in the collection of Dr. Susat (Irving, Texas) [Jessa J. Krick, 9/25/2012].

Note Type

General Note

Note

According to information provided on the website of G. L. Sussman (accessed 9/2012), "this bronze was executed and cast by Mr. Sussman at The Sculpture Center in NYC, where he was director from 1979-1989 in a foundry which was built by Mr. Sussman along with Herk Van Tungran of the Johnson Atelir [sic]."

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Administrative Office, Reading Room, Not specified

Note Type

Department

Note

Curatorial