Diana
Augustus Saint-Gaudens American
From its lofty perch on Madison Square Garden’s tower, the resplendent gilded Diana enjoyed iconic status on the New York City skyline from 1892 to 1925. Saint-Gaudens capitalized on its fame by issuing three variant reductions; in this second version, the lithe goddess, about to release her arrow, is poised atop a full orb on a two-tiered base (a monumental version is on view in the Charles Engelhard Court of the American Wing; acc. no. 28.101). The lustrous patina was achieved by electro-plating a mixture of gold, copper, and zinc to the bronze surface.
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