Lot 38: EDWARD HENRY BERGE (1876-1924) Wild Flower inscribed ‘Berge’ (on the ba

EDWARD HENRY BERGE (1876-1924) Wild Flower inscribed ‘Berge’ (on the base) and stamped ‘ROMAN BRONZE WORKS N.Y.’ (along the base) bronze with brown patina 42in high Modeled in 1909.

Provenance Private collection, Towson, Maryland. Literature Memorial Exhibition of Sculpture by Edward Berge, exhibition catalogue, Washington, D.C., 1924, n.p., no. 6, another example illustrated on cover. Wild Flower was a favorite subject among collectors of Edward Berge’s works. This life-size version of Wild Flower was the first model of this subject and was conceived by the artist in 1909. Berge later produced the work in two reductions, including a medium-sized version in 1916, and the smallest bronze version in 1923, shortly before his death. Both reductions were produced in large editions whereas this example from the original, life-size version is one of a smaller edition. Berge is well known for public works including the William H. Waston Monument, the Samuel H. Tattersall Monument, both installed in Baltimore, Maryland, and his Pieta sculpture in Saint Patrick’s Church in Washington, D.C.