Albert Moritz (1854-1923) Bronze Sculpture of Farmer Tilling Field

Our large bronze group after the model by Albert Moritz Wolff (Russian Federation, 1854-1923) depicts a farmer tilling his field behind two horses.  Signed and dated A.M. Wolff, fed, 1903, with the mark of the foundry, AKT.GES H. GLADENBECK und SOHN. BERLIN FRIEDRICHSHAGEN.  Mounted on stained mahogany plinth measuring 27.5 x 12.25 x 5 in (70 x 31 x 13 cm).  Bronze alone measures approximately 27 x 10 x 10.25 in (70 x 25 x 26 cm).  Estimated weight is 50 lbs, 23 kg. 

This exceptionally sculpted work was cast and finished at the Aktien-Gesellschaft Gladenbeck foundry of Berlin.   Opened in 1851 by Carl Gustav Hermann Gladenbeck, the firm was one of the finest in Germany, known for bronze castings of the highest quality, and operated until 1926.  

The artist can be linked stylistically to Lanceray and Gavrilov, and is known for his figurative sculpture depicing ordinary Russian characters of his period, plus exotic figural subjects from the middle east and elsewhere.

Moritz' works have appeared at major auction.  A notable work of similar size was offered by Sotheby's in New York in their sale of Russian Works of Art on April 17, 2112, where lot 60, a group sculpture depicting a wolf attacking a winter troika, with an estimate of $25,000-$35,000, sold for $46,875.

Other recent sales at Sotheby's of Moritz' bronzes in similar subjects include:

Lot 396, depicting a Russian peasant on horse-drawn cart, offered in their New York sale of Russian Art on April 22, 2009, measuring 12 in (30.5 cm) across, which sold for $10,000.

Lot 47, depicting a peasant with oxen cart, offered in their New York sale of Russian Works on April 17, 2012, measuring 12.75 in (32.4 cm) wide, which sold for $12,500.

Lot 544, depicting horse-drawn sleigh, offered in their New York sale of Russian Art on April 16, 2008, measuring 13 in (33 cm), which sold for $15,000.