Bonhams, one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques exhibited the original Iwo Jima Monument at the 590 Madison Avenue Sculpture Garden adjoining its auction galleries. Created by Felix de Weldon, the large-scale, bronze-coated, cement and plaster sculpture was the 1945 World War II forerunner of the magnificent United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. This piece was offered for private sale by Bonhams in the Feb. 22, 2013, World War II: the Pacific Theater auction. The monument was created to commemorate the raising of an American flag by five Marines and a Navy Corpsman on Mount Suribachi as Allied Forces struggled to capture the Japanese-held island in February of 1945. News photographer Joe Rosenthal caught the scene, and his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph inspired de Weldon.
Amazing magnificence - you can see the effort etched on the faces and body postures. It's brilliant to be able to see a larger picture just by clicking on the photo. Brilliant stuff Noel. I take my hat off to the late Felix de Weldon. JanUK
ReplyDelete