Thomas Waldo Story

Thomas Waldo Story;
by direct family descent

Overall the condition of the marble is very good, with minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. There is some naturally occurring brownish staining to the marble at the wing, which adds to the effect of the carving. There is a very small area of dirt or inclusion to the top of the ear. There are a few minor chips around the edges of the marble slab, which are only visible from the back. The carved wood frame is in good condition with some wear, including several nicks. There are a few chips, including to one of the capitals and a few of the corners and edges. There is minor evidence of past worming, including at the top right corner and to the left of the column on the right. There are two metal brackets at the back, and a wire for hanging.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Though born in Italy, Thomas Waldo Story was of American heritage; his father was the distinguished neoclassical sculptor William Wetmore Story. Waldo Story attended Eton and Oxford and mingled with expatriate artists living and practising in Rome around his father, as well as an impressive group of British aristocratic patrons. The marble bas-relief became Waldo Story's signature medium as a sculptor, and he was the first to produce 'portrait bas-reliefs' of British and American ladies of society. The present relief appears to be an early work which precedes those portrait reliefs and instead represents a beautifully executed study of an ideal head in profile. The pure sensuality of the Hermes exemplifies Waldo Story's coolly elegant style, which is also found in his other ideal works such as the bust titled Honorius. A pair of monumental bas-reliefs with mythological scenes by Waldo Story from the same collection as the present work was sold in these rooms on 29 May 2008 (lot 81).

RELATED LITERATURE
E. March Phillips, 'Waldo Story: Sculptor', The Magazine of Art, 1903, pp. 137-140 

We are grateful to Dr. Kathy Lawrence, Associate Fellow, Yale University, for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.