Detail: London Sculpture Week is a significant contribution to the wide variety of major exhibitions, fairs and auctions that draw thousands of art lovers to London in June and make the city one of the most important art market centres of the world. All the participating galleries are based in the Mayfair and St James’s area of London enabling visitors to easily walk from one to another.
Medieval sculpture will be the focus of Sam Fogg’s exhibition with pieces in stone, wood and terracotta dating from the 12th to the early 16th centuries. One of the highlights will be a wood figure of a Holy Knight, possibly Saint Florian, carved by Erasmus Grasser (c. 1450-1515), one of the most celebrated German sculptors of the late Middle Ages.
In the exhibition In our own Image: Gods and Mortals in Antiquity Rupert Wace Ancient Art explores the question: is man made in God’s image or has man made God in his own image? The oldest sculpture is a delicate marble head of a female figure dating from c. 2600-2500 BC. These figures made on the Greek Cycladic islands were so stylized that such abstraction was not seen again until the 20th century. Other ancient masterpieces include an Egyptian life-size limestone head of king Tutankhamun, 1336-1327 BC, and a Hellenistic marble figure of Aphrodite, the naked goddess of love, 2nd/1st century BC.
The arts of Asia will be represented by Rossi & Rossi, leading dealers in Himalayan art both old and new. Among their fine pieces is a Central Tibetan bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, c. 14th century. It depicts the Historical Buddha at the moment he reaches enlightenment and calls the earth to witness, seated wearing an elaborately-draped monk’s robe. The refinement of the fine nose and gentle curves of eyebrows, eyes and mouth reflect the artistic influence of Pala sculpture from Eastern India. Rossi & Rossi will be taking part in this event and among the highlights on view in their gallery at 16 Clifford Street is a Central Tibetan bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni dating to the 14th century. It is seated wearing an elaborate draped monk's robe and the refinement of the nose and gentle curves of eyebrows, eyes and mouth reflect the artistic influence of Pala sculpture from Eastern India.