Schreitendes Reh / Sicherndes Reh. Um 1918.
2Bronzes with dark brown patina.
Gabler 266 and 267 (there with a height of 28.5 cm). Each with name and number "VI" on the side of the plinth. Cast aside from the edition of only 2 lifetime casts and a maximum of 10 estate casts at Galerie Cassirer. Each up to ca. 32.2 x 36 x 10 cm (12.6 x 14.1 x 3.9 in).
The two deer go back to Gaul's unexecuted draft for the Walter-Leistikow monument from 1913. The lower height of 18.5/29 cm as mentioned in the literature is presumably owed to a measure including the upper cast plinth, however, without the stronger second plinth below. [JS].
• Rare pair of deer originally conceived as counterparts for the Walter-Leistikow monument in 1913.
• August Gaul was among the Berlin Secession founding members and was, next to Renée Sintenis, one of Germany's highest renowned modernist animal sculptors.
• In 2011 the Liebermann Villa on Wannsee honored the protagonist of the Berlin Secession with the exhibition "Ein Zoo für Haus und Garten. Bronzen, Zeichnungen und Graphiken von August Gaul"
• In the early 20th century Gaul's animal sculptures did not only adorn the garden of his friend Max Liebermann, but were also found in many private gardens of the upper class.

We are grateful to Dr. Josephine Gabler, Berlin, for her kind expert advice.

PROVENANCE: Art trader Gronert, Berlin.
Private collection Berlin (acquired from aforementioned).

EXHIBITION: (each presumably different copy):
Akademie der Künste Berlin, Berlin 1919.
Galerie Paul Cassierer, Berlin 1919.

LITERATURE: (in selection):
Angelo Walther, der Bilhauer August Gaul. Leben und Werk, Leipzig 1961, cat. no. 132/133.
Roland Dorn, register of bronzes at Paul Cassirer, in: Ursel Berger (editor), der Tierbildhauer August Gaul, ex. cat. Georg Kolbe Museum, Berlin 1999, p. 81, cat. no. 71 (here with the title "Reh I und II" and with a height of 29 and 32 cm respectively).