RICHARD GARBE (1876-1957)

An Elegy was first exhibited at The Royal Academy in 1906 (no. 1709) and figures among a small number of early works imbued with the sensibilities of New Sculpture movement. However, the 1920s and 30s marked Garbe’s most prolific artistic period and his oeuvre became stylistically informed by the prevalent Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements. Furthermore, the artist is perhaps most celebrated for his architectural contributions, specifically those at Thames House, London, where his relief work fully displayed ‘vigorous imagination combined with technical skill’. He followed his work at Thames House with a monumental façade of the east pavilion at National Museum of Wales at Cardiff representing the Medieval Age and Modern Age. Another cast sold Christie's, London, 14 December 2016, lot 4 (£20,000).