Roman Bronze Works
Encyclopedia
Roman Bronze Works in New York City
, established in 1897 by Ricardo Bertelli, was the pre-eminent sculpture bronze foundry
in the United States
during the American Renaissance
. It continued to cast sculpture after that period ended. Its foundry, long a sub-contractor to Louis Comfort Tiffany
's Tiffany Studios
, moved to Tiffany's Corona, New York, red brick factory in 1927. Roman Bronze Works was the first American foundry to specialize in the lost-wax casting method. Its mold makers, casters, chasers and finishers, and patinaters worked directly with sculptors whose plaster and terra cotta models provided the originals.
Sculptors trusted Roman Bronze Works to accurately scale down finished works for editions of collectors' bronzes. Monuments by Daniel Chester French
, Henry Augustus Lukeman and Augustus Saint-Gaudens
could ornament a private library or drawing room. From 1898 Frederic Remington
worked exclusively with Roman Bronze Works, as did Charles M. Russell. Remington bronzes were being cast by Roman Bronze Works as late as the 1980s.
Roman Bronze Works, which made Tiffany's bronze accessories and lamp bases
, moved to Tiffany's Corona facility in 1927. Roman Bronze Works was purchased in 1946 by Salvatore Schiavo, whose father had been working at the foundry since 1902. His nephew, Philip J. Schiavo, the grandson of the first Schiavo, was the president of the foundry until its closing.
After the foundry closed, an auction was staged of original plaster models of major works by American artists, Frederic Remington
, Daniel Chester French
, Charles Russell, Bessie Potter Vonnoh
and Anna Hyatt Huntington
, in New York, 17 September 1988. Some of the molds were moved to warehouse space in Copiague, New York
, under the aegis of American Art Restoration, Inc.. Fortunately the business archives were preserved and are now at the Amon Carter Museum
Library, Fort Worth, Texas.In addition, the foundry has recently been reopened as Roman Bronze Studios by Brain Ramnarine who apprenticed and worked at Roman Bronze Works with Salvatore and Philip Schiavo.
The monograph devoted to Roman Bronze Works, based on the firm's ledgers and archival photographs at the Amon Carter Museum, is Lucy D. Rosenfeld, A Century of American Sculpture The Roman Bronze Works Foundry 2002.
In 1908, they built a home and studio for sculptor Harry Merwin Shrady
at White Plains, New York
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982 as the Leo Friedlander Studio
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, established in 1897 by Ricardo Bertelli, was the pre-eminent sculpture bronze foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the American Renaissance
American Renaissance
In the history of American architecture and the arts, the American Renaissance was the period in 1835-1880 characterized by renewed national self-confidence and a feeling that the United States was the heir to Greek democracy, Roman law, and Renaissance humanism...
. It continued to cast sculpture after that period ended. Its foundry, long a sub-contractor to Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
's Tiffany Studios
Tiffany glass
Tiffany glass refers to the many and varied types of glass developed and produced from 1878 to 1933 at the Tiffany Studios, by Louis Comfort Tiffany....
, moved to Tiffany's Corona, New York, red brick factory in 1927. Roman Bronze Works was the first American foundry to specialize in the lost-wax casting method. Its mold makers, casters, chasers and finishers, and patinaters worked directly with sculptors whose plaster and terra cotta models provided the originals.
Sculptors trusted Roman Bronze Works to accurately scale down finished works for editions of collectors' bronzes. Monuments by Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
, Henry Augustus Lukeman and Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance"...
could ornament a private library or drawing room. From 1898 Frederic Remington
Frederic Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
worked exclusively with Roman Bronze Works, as did Charles M. Russell. Remington bronzes were being cast by Roman Bronze Works as late as the 1980s.
Roman Bronze Works, which made Tiffany's bronze accessories and lamp bases
Tiffany lamp
A Tiffany lamp is a type of lamp with many different types of glass shade. The most famous was the stained leaded glass lamp. Tiffany lamps are considered part of the Art Nouveau movement.- History :...
, moved to Tiffany's Corona facility in 1927. Roman Bronze Works was purchased in 1946 by Salvatore Schiavo, whose father had been working at the foundry since 1902. His nephew, Philip J. Schiavo, the grandson of the first Schiavo, was the president of the foundry until its closing.
After the foundry closed, an auction was staged of original plaster models of major works by American artists, Frederic Remington
Frederic Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
, Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
, Charles Russell, Bessie Potter Vonnoh
Bessie Potter Vonnoh
Bessie Potter Vonnoh was an American sculptor best known for her small bronzes, mostly of domestic scenes, and for her garden fountains.- Early years :...
and Anna Hyatt Huntington
Anna Hyatt Huntington
Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington was an American sculptor.-Life and career:Huntington was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her father, Alpheus Hyatt, was a professor of paleontology and zoology at Harvard University and MIT, and served as a contributing factor to her early interest in animals and...
, in New York, 17 September 1988. Some of the molds were moved to warehouse space in Copiague, New York
Copiague, New York
Copiague is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 18,037 at the 2007 census. Once Copiague was a thriving Italian community. Many years ago a part of Copiague was named after Marconi. The ethnic makeup of the hamlet is quite diverse, making Copiague a rich...
, under the aegis of American Art Restoration, Inc.. Fortunately the business archives were preserved and are now at the Amon Carter Museum
Amon Carter Museum
The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is located in Fort Worth, Texas. It was established by Amon G. Carter to house his collection of paintings and sculpture by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. Carter’s will provided a museum in Fort Worth devoted to American art.When the museum opened...
Library, Fort Worth, Texas.In addition, the foundry has recently been reopened as Roman Bronze Studios by Brain Ramnarine who apprenticed and worked at Roman Bronze Works with Salvatore and Philip Schiavo.
The monograph devoted to Roman Bronze Works, based on the firm's ledgers and archival photographs at the Amon Carter Museum, is Lucy D. Rosenfeld, A Century of American Sculpture The Roman Bronze Works Foundry 2002.
In 1908, they built a home and studio for sculptor Harry Merwin Shrady
Henry Shrady
Henry Merwin Shrady was the sculptor of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, D.C.Shrady was born in New York City. His father, George Shrady, was one of the physicians who attended former president Ulysses S...
at White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982 as the Leo Friedlander Studio
Leo Friedlander Studio
Leo Friedlander Studio is a historic home and artist's studio located at White Plains, Westchester County, New York. It was built in 1908 by the Roman Bronze Works and is a -story building built of concrete block covered in stucco. It features classical style details, a copper-covered gable roof,...
.