Finely Modelled Giraffe by Thierry Van Rijswijck

Belgium

Circa 1935

By Thierry Van Rijswijck (1911-1958)

This is a rare patinated plaster produced by A Hoepraegrs

Signed Th Van Rijswijck and inscribed AH (for A Hoepraegrs)

Height 74 cm length 32 cm (29 x 12 in)

Van Rijswijck, one of a group of talented Belgian Animaliers, studied sculpture at the Academy of Art in his native Antwerp and like Rembrandt Bugatti, often visited the city’s Zoological Gardens to study and sketch; at that time it had a reputation for exotic species which were imported from the Colonies and artists were encouraged to work there. Throughout his career he concentrated on modelling the young of the species, capturing not only their characteristic poses but also their individual personalities.

Exhibitions:
Monte Carlo 1954 retrospective
Antwerp 1990 ‘Rembrandt Bugatti and the Belgian School of Sculptors’

S.2423