Richard MacDonald (American, b. 1946), Sissone, Atelier

2012, bronze with applied patina, edition numbered "228/950," with signature and date beneath the pointe shoe, with additional etched signature to the tiered polished stone base. Included with the Lot is the original shipping box with custom fitted foam packaging.

Sculpture 19 3/4 x 13 x 7 in.; box 15 x 24 x 15 in.

Private Collection, Chapel Hill and Greensboro, North Carolina

Sissone stands as one of the most elegant of Richard MacDonald’s Ballet works: elegant in the truest sense of the word, it expresses the refined grace of one of the world’s consummate classical dancers. When Richard MacDonald was studying the dancers of the Royal Ballet in London he was working with dancers of flawless technical prowess and highly developed artistic sensibilities. Sissone emerged from this creative period as a reflection of one great artist’s understanding of the artistry of the performer, with the delicate arching of the back, the graceful sweep of the curved arms, and the perfect extension of the outstretched leg. There is exhilaration to be felt in viewing this work – it is a moment of ideal beauty; physical, spiritual, and fleeting. Sissone is a reminder that human achievement can be dazzling, and we can trace exceptional physical accomplishments to a feeling that comes from the heart.

Born in Pasadena, California, MacDonald graduated from Art Center College where he was classically trained. He then became a self-taught sculptor and spent the last 50 years reviving the lost art of figurative sculpture through innovation, passion, and intense commitment. An illustrious career with many awards, honors, and public monuments has resulted in an extensive body of unique works in bronze, including a monumental 26-foot-tall bronze, Flair Across America, that was installed in Centennial Park, Atlanta for the 1996 Olympic Games. Now based in his Monterey studio, MacDonald has established himself as one of the leading figures in contemporary sculpture. He has his own foundry where he has control over the quality of his sculpture and is represented by Dawson Cole Fine Art.