The Artist's Wife, Nita Maria Schonfeld Resch
Bust
1898 (made)
1898 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bust is made by Conrad Dressler (1856-1940) and represents the portrait of his wife Nita Maria Schonfeld Resch (1864-1928).
To enhance the naturalism of the terracotta, Dressler added some colour.
Dressler was on German parentage but was born in Streatham, South London. He trained as a sculptor under Professor Lantéri at the Royal College of Art, and later under J E Boehm in Paris. Although he is remembered as a sculptor, Dressler had a wide range of interests. He was an early member of the Art Workers' Guild, and produced works in a variety of materials and techniques. He also held strong Ruskinian beliefs, and published a paper in 1896 entitled 'The Curse of Machinery'.
A photograph (A.3:2-1995) of about 1900 showing the bust in the sculptor's studio was acquired at the same time as the present piece.
To enhance the naturalism of the terracotta, Dressler added some colour.
Dressler was on German parentage but was born in Streatham, South London. He trained as a sculptor under Professor Lantéri at the Royal College of Art, and later under J E Boehm in Paris. Although he is remembered as a sculptor, Dressler had a wide range of interests. He was an early member of the Art Workers' Guild, and produced works in a variety of materials and techniques. He also held strong Ruskinian beliefs, and published a paper in 1896 entitled 'The Curse of Machinery'.
A photograph (A.3:2-1995) of about 1900 showing the bust in the sculptor's studio was acquired at the same time as the present piece.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Artist's Wife, Nita Maria Schonfeld Resch (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | painted terracotta |
| Brief description | Bust, painted terracotta on painted wood socle, Nita Maria Schonfeld Resch, by Conrad Gustav D'Huc Dressler, British, 1898 |
| Physical description | The subject is shown with bare shoulders, her hair coiled into a bun at the nape of her neck, and the top of her chemise just visible. She tilts her head and looks slightly to her left. The bust is made of a particularly grainy terracotta which has been press-moulded, and then re-worked after having been removed from the mould. Signed and dated at the back. The surface has been given a light off-white wash, while the hair, the irises of the eyes, and the lips have been painted a pale red. The bust is fixed on a black wood socle. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Conrad Dressler / Dec 1898' (at back) |
| Gallery label | Conrad Dressler (1856–1940)
Portrait of Nita Maria Schonfeld Resch (1864–1928)
Signed and dated 1898
Nita Resch is depicted in this portrait by her husband, Dressler. He made Resch’s features more lifelike by adding colour to the terracotta. Dressler trained at the National Art Training School (later the Royal College of Art) under the French sculptor, Edouard Lanteri, whose work is displayed nearby. While he gained a reputation as a portrait sculptor early on, Dressler is now best known for his ceramics.
England
Painted terracotta on painted wood socle(2021) |
| Object history | Bought for £3,500 with the Sculpture Collection Purchase Grant, in 1995. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bust is made by Conrad Dressler (1856-1940) and represents the portrait of his wife Nita Maria Schonfeld Resch (1864-1928). To enhance the naturalism of the terracotta, Dressler added some colour. Dressler was on German parentage but was born in Streatham, South London. He trained as a sculptor under Professor Lantéri at the Royal College of Art, and later under J E Boehm in Paris. Although he is remembered as a sculptor, Dressler had a wide range of interests. He was an early member of the Art Workers' Guild, and produced works in a variety of materials and techniques. He also held strong Ruskinian beliefs, and published a paper in 1896 entitled 'The Curse of Machinery'. A photograph (A.3:2-1995) of about 1900 showing the bust in the sculptor's studio was acquired at the same time as the present piece. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.3:1-1995 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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