Natare I. 1969.
Bronze with green-brown patina, partly polished.
Wellmann 330. With name and date on base, as well as with the foundry mark "W. Füssel Berlin 70 [?]" on verso. Only known cast made during the artist's lifetime. Ca. 181 x 86 x 65 cm (71.2 x 33.8 x 25.5 in).
This cast is the only known one made during Heiliger's lifetime. It was executed by the Charlottenburg foundry Wilhelm Füssel. Füssel, who was an apprentice at Noack in 1916, had his own foundry between 1922 and 1992, which soon became established as one of the most acclaimed art foundries in Berlin.
Additionally, the Berhard Heiliger Foundation commissioned a numbered posthumous cast from the preserved plaster original, which was executed by the art foundry Hermann Noack, Berlin.
Only known cast of this monumental bronze that was made during the artist's lifetime.

PROVENANCE: Collection of Bank of New York, New York.

EXHIBITION: Berhard Heiliger: 19 Neue Skulpturen, Galerie Günther Franke, Munich, April 1970 (presumably this copy).
Berhard Heiliger, Galleria il Canale, Venice, July 1970 (presumably this copy).
Berhard Heiliger, Staempfli Gallery, New York, 22 September - 10 October 1970 (presumably this copy).
Bernhard Heiliger, Haus der Bremischen Bürgerschaft, Bremen, 5 July - 15 August 2003 (posthumous copy).