Performing Bear
Frederick George Richard Roth American
Cast by Roman Bronze Works
An accomplished animal sculptor, Roth portrayed humorous aspects of animal life. "Performing Bear" was most likely modeled after a tamed animal Roth saw in a circus act, either in Europe or the United States. The sculptor’s careful depiction of the bear's muscles, bones, and fur reflects his training in both art and veterinary anatomy. This statuette is one of six in the Metropolitan’s collection that was purchased from Roth in 1906, at a time when the museum was making a special effort to collect smaller bronzes by American sculptors.
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