Tony Rosenthal Study for Abstract Plaque 1964 Signed Unique Brass Maquette

Tony Rosenthal
Study for Abstract Plaque, 1964  
Hand Cut and Welded Brass Maquette, unique
6 1/4 x 10 3/4 x 2 inches
Approximate weight: 45 lbs
Stamped "ROSENTHAL" lower right

Provenance
Tony Rosenthal, New York

Condition
Excellent condition. This Tony Rosenthal Hand Cut & Welded Brass unique Maquette Sculpture was originally mounted to a base with two screws located on the bottom. Images show the threaded screw holes. Could easily be mounted to a piece of metal, stone, wood or mounted in a frame to hang on a wall.

Background Abstract Plaque at the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, LA
One of the most distinguished outdoor sculpture installations in the country, the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden spans more than five acres of UCLA’s campus with over 70 sculptures by artists such as Hans Arp, Deborah Butterfield, Alexander Calder, Barbara Hepworth, Jacques Lipchitz, Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin, and David Smith.

The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden features Tony (Bernard) Rosenthal’s Abstract 1964 Plaque, a honey-colored rectangular relief that encourages the viewer’s movement to take in the multiple planes and geometric shapes moving out from the wall. Rosenthal's large scale Abstract Plaque is placed on an evenly laid brick wall, further highlighting the irregular surface, crags, and angles of the bronze panels. The large scale Rosenthal is tucked into a corner where it permanently resides next to a portrait of Franklin D. Murphy, founder of the sculpture garden.

Chicago-born Tony Rosenthal moved to Los Angeles in 1946 upon the urging of famed mid-century American designers Charles and Ray Eames, whom he befriended during his time at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. Cementing his relationship with the City of Angels, he was hired as the first sculpture instructor at UCLA in 1952. Rosenthal’s sculptures can be found across Los Angeles and other metropolitan cities such as Manhattan and Philadelphia, and his work has been featured in exhibitions at renowned institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

Look for another monumental wall relief by Tony  Rosenthal at Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles. You’ll find it in the access guide menu under artwork in “Century City.”

The Large Scale Tony Rosenthal Plaque is 5 feet x 9 feet. A visitor can approach the plaque from multiple vantage points, confront it directly or from the side. Position yourself at the side of the piece to appreciate the 3-dimensional nature of the work. From the front, find all the differing heights of the geometric forms jutting out from the flat base. Notice the physical differences between the brick wall and the sculpture–the colors and the patterns. The horizontal pattern of red bricks, in contrast with the vertical blocks of the sculpture, emphasizes the order of one and the jumble of the other. Sometimes the plaque is in the shadow of the afternoon sun, but at other times of day, and depending on the season, it is bathed in the warm sunlight.

Tony Rosenthal created both the large scale work and unique Maquette by cutting geometric shapes from a thick sheet of metal with an electric band saw. The saw’s teeth create irregular marks on the raised surfaces.

Tony Rosenthal, Public Art Legend
Named a public art legend by Sam Hunter, professor and art critic, monumental public art sculptures by Tony Rosenthal are located in many of the largest United States Cities, including Beverly Hills, CA; Detroit, MI; Highland Park, IL; Honolulu, HA; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New London, CT; New York, NY; Norfolk, VA; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego,CA.

International Solo & Group Exhibitions
Throughout his career, Tony Rosenthal exhibited all over the world in numerous solo and group shows. In addition to the legendary Kootz Gallery, New York, Tony Rosenthal received numerous one man exhibitions at M. Knoedler & Company, New York; André Emmerich Gallery, New York; Maxwell Davidson Gallery, New York; Catherine Viviano Gallery, New York and Denise Rene, Paris.