Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (1880-1980)

Conceived in 1929 as a companion piece to 'Desha', 'Allegra' was cast in an edition of 52; 34 were cast at Gorham Foundry and 18 at Roman Bronze Works. Frishmuth's favorite model Desha posed for both pieces, and the artist described the pose depicted as "the instant of repose in dance just before the dancer begins a new series of movements. In ballet you see this quite fleeting but nonetheless momentary pause if you observe closely enough to catch it." (as quoted in Captured Motion: The Sculpture of Harriet Frishmuth, A Catalogue of Works, New York, 2006, p. 49)