Magdalena Gross, Bust of Leon Okret

Bronze chiseled and patinated. On a marble base. Embossed foundry signature: Foundry Company Kranc L. and Lempicki T. "Metalars" Ltd.
Dimensions: 56 x 20 cm

Magdalena Gross is one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. She began her artistic education at the Warsaw School of Fine Arts where she studied sculpture under the tutelage of Henryk Kuna.Complementing the education acquired in Poland was a two-year stay in Florence where the artist gained sculptural experience under the tutelage of Francesco Simi. In the initial phase of her work, Magdalena Gross specialized in portrait sculpture. She portrayed famous people: Frederick Jarosa, Josef Beck, Franciszek Fiszer. Her favorite material was patinated and chiseled bronze, in which technique she was able to convey the character of the portrayed while simplifying the form. Beginning in the 1930s, the artist became interested in the world of animals, which she watched in the Warsaw Zoological Garden. A keen observation of nature leads to the creation of a series of small sculptural forms with representations of birds with an extremely elegant and minimalist form. Magdalena Gross's work can be seen at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, the Museum of Warsaw and the Xawery Dunikowski Museum of Sculpture, among others.
The Artistic Casting Plant cast sculptures by Magdalena Gross in 1934-1936. It is one of the best bronzing companies mentioned in a row with Br.Lopienski's company.Leon Krantz's foundry also cast sculptures by Henryk Kuna or Xawery Dunikowski.

Leon Okręt (born 1864) a lawyer and journalist associated with the Warsaw community. He studied and practiced law in St. Petersburg to later go to Paris, where he remained for several years. He returned to Poland in 1920 and began working with "Kurier Polski," "Głos Prawdy," "epoka" and "Kurier Poranny," to which he wrote reports-feelings of interesting court cases. This is how he was mentioned by Mieczyslaw Jarosz:

"A big boost was brought by Okręt and Berenson. Okręt spent long years in Paris as a lawyer. A good speaker, great literary pen. His practice was modest. He wrote reports of court hearings and published two volumes in print. They were actually impressions from trials written with great artistry. Someone said that they stand higher than many a good defense. And he was right. It was said of Ship that his vices were rather advantages, just as advantages seemed to be vices."

Mieczyslaw Jarosz, Silhouettes of outstanding Warsaw defenders between the wars, Palestra 2/1(5), 15-24, 1958.