Richard König

Life-size bronze sculpture, dark patina, mounted on an oval, naturalistically modeled bronze plinth, imitating a stone base. Standing male nude, holding a spear in his left hand, his right clasped behind his back. Signed and inscribed on the lance: ”R. KOENIG RADEB., Guss v. Pirner & Franz, Dresden”.

Professor Richard Koenig, Dresden sculptor, born 1863 in Leobschutz (Silesia), 1882-85 pupil of the Berlin Academy under Calandrelli and from 1885 to 1887 in Dresden under Hähnel. Active also in Italy, settles in Dresden-Radebeul, in 1920 moved to Ettal (Bavaria).

Provenance:

Richard King’s "Adonis" was exhibited in 1912 at the Great Art Exhibition in Dresden, listed and pictured in the catalogue; acquired from the Saxon family of industrialists Julius E. Belger, Schwarzenberg. Since the 1920’s to 1944 as loan to the Ministry of Finance of Saxony. See: Thieme-Becker, General Encyclopedia of Artists, 1927, volume 21, page 163: Richard Koenig, "Adonis, life-size bronze statue, Ministry of Finance, Dresden." From 1944-2006 again in possession of the original owners family Belger and their successors.