Richard MacDonald Sleep, Marcel, Sleep Signed 17” Bronze Sculpture Edition of 175

Artist: Richard MacDonald
Title: Sleep Marcel, Sleep
Medium: Bronze Sculpture
Size: 17 3/4" high x 9" x 6"
Inscription: Signed and numbered on ball near bottom of sculpture
Edition: 101/175
Year: Circa 1991
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Richard MacDonald's bronze sculpture, "Sleep, Marcel, Sleep", is an exquisite representation of relaxation captured in a medium known for its timeless elegance and durability. Standing 17 3/4 inches high, this piece is part of an edition limited to 175. The bronze sculpture is presented on a stepped marble base, which complements the bronze with its contrasting texture and color.

The artist's attention to anatomical precision and the delicate detailing of the human form is evident, making the piece a study in both artistic skill and emotional depth. The gentle curves and relaxed posture of Marcel suggest a moment of peaceful rest, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of calm and introspection.

MacDonald, renowned for his ability to convey the beauty and dynamism of the human body, masterfully uses bronze to render Marcel's form with a lifelike quality. The sculpture's patina enhances the visual impact, adding depth and richness to the bronze surface. "Sleep, Marcel, Sleep" is a testament to MacDonald's dedication to his craft, blending classical sculptural techniques with a contemporary sensibility to create a work that is both timeless and deeply moving. This piece is a significant addition to any collection, celebrating the quiet moments of human experience through the enduring medium of bronze.

Richard MacDonald's bronze sculpture “Sleep Marcel, Sleep" is signed and number by the artist and includes a gallery certificate of authenticity with purchase.

About Richard MacDonald

Devoted to exploring of the human form, Richard MacDonald is often regarded as the world's leading figurative sculptor today. This ingenious aesthete has been creating bronze sculptures with a relentless enthusiasm for over thirty years. Often described as Realism, his work is a part of the neo-figurative movement and it is greatly inspired by motion and the art of dance.

Originally, Richard MacDonald was classically trained as a painter, having graduated Cum laude from the Art Center College of Design in 1971. His career began in the world of illustration, where the artist was frequently required to illustrate sporting events, including the Olympics. After a decade in illustration, he wanted to pursue another medium and his fascination with human body brought him to sculpture.

In 1983, MacDonald officially retired as an illustrator and immersed himself into a three-dimensional creative universe. His talent helped accelerate his career as a sculptor, as the artist quickly rose to international prominence. Celebrated for its dynamism, refinement and superb quality, sculptures by Richard MacDonald were greatly sought after, while numerous prestigious commissions followed. Simultaneously, he never ceased to explore the stunning physicality and aesthetics of the human body, regularly working with live models in his studio.

Ballet was hardly a novel subject in art and Richard MacDonald does follow the footsteps of Degas and even Rodin. Still, the works of the contemporary sculptor are different, meticulously made and anatomically correct to the slightest detail, testifying to the artist's unparalleled perfectionism. Still, they are not a literal translation of a dancer's body, but a true artistic portrayal of an paradigmatic character or a scene, imbued with personal traits and a vast emotive spectrum radiating from every inch of the piece. MacDonald's statues are idealized images of harmony, with masterly balanced compositions, depicted the impossible postures and appearing to barely touch the ground.

As a renowned artist, Richard MacDonald worked with some of the most prominent dancers and performers in the world, notably with members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, and most recently - Cirque du Soleil. A devout philanthropist, he was honored and awarded by great international organizations, including the United States Olympic Committee.

In the manner and with the commitment of the greatest sculptors from the history of art, Richard MacDonald continues to create sculptures impregnated with passion and energy, celebrating the supreme qualities of both the spiritual and the material body. His works are admired by connoisseurs and aficionados alike, as some of the most coveted collectibles in the world of contemporary sculpture.

Richard MacDonald was born in Pasadena, California in 1946. He keeps a studio in Monterey, California, where he is based.