Description:

MARK ANTOKOLSKY (LITHUANIAN-RUSSIAN 1840-1902)
Bust of Mephistopheles,circa 1875
bronze with brown and green patina
24 cm (9 1/2 in.)

signed on the right of the base

LOT NOTES
Following the glowing acclaim of Mark Antokolsky's marble sculpture Mephistopheles, which entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum in 1886, a mere three years after its completion, the artist produced bronze versions of the figure's bust to capitalize on the project's success. At the onset, Antokolsky turned to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust for inspiration for the figure, which he referred to as the equally powerful counterpoint to his earlier sculpture of Christ. Lacking clothing or any identifiable characteristics tying him to a particular period or place, the artist nevertheless epitomized the demon of the modern age. In an 1883 letter to E. G. Mamontova, Antokolsky wrote: Mephistopheles is a product of all the ages, and ours in particular. We can say that I dreamed up this being, that this is purely my fantasy, or you could ask where I saw such a being? Yes, no one sees him like this, but we sense his breathing, feel his monstrous paw pressing on our chest, sense our inability to cry out, in a word, we see the nightmare.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

• All items must be paid for before they can be released.
• For shipments to domestic and international locations, while we do not ship directly, we can recommend some shippers who are local to us, and can pick-up your items from our office with your authorization. Please see a list of recommended shippers below. Clients are free to choose their own shippers, and these recommendations are provided only for convenience. We will not accept liability for any recommendations of shippers.
• The purchaser is responsible for insuring his or her items in transit. Once items have been picked-up or released to a shipper, they are no longer covered under our insurance.
• Payment for shipment and arrangements for shipment, must be made with the shipper directly.
• Once you have made arrangement with a shipper, please email or fax us authorizing us to release your property to that person or company.

For regular shipments:
1. The UPS Store Mamaroneck (Eric or Waldo), Tel. +1 (914) 266-2345
2. ASAP ETC INC (John or Dennis): +1 (914) 381-6421, email: [email protected]
3. The UPS Store NYC (Waldo or Daniel), Tel. +1 (212) 920-6521, email: [email protected]
4. Lex Pack and Ship (Bob or Irma), Tel. +1 (212) 288-4425, email: [email protected]
5. ArtFira Shipping (Alex), Tel. +1 (917) 573-5688 (can also assist with shipments to Russia/Ukraine, etc., including crates),
email: [email protected]
6. Max Art International LLC, (Darius) Tel. +1 (917) 502-8731, email: [email protected] (Can also assist with shipments to
Russia/CIS, including crates).
7. Global Transit Group (Rostislav), Tel. +1 (718) 449-1971, email: [email protected] (Can also assist with shipments to
Russia/CIS, including crates).

For larger items, art shuttles, and anything requiring wooden crates or specialized art transport
1. Atelier 4: +1 (718) 433-3500, email: [email protected]
2. Cadogan Tate Fine Art: +1 (718) 706-7999, email: [email protected]
3. James Bourlet, Inc: +1 (718) 392-9770, email: [email protected]
4. Thomas Sullivan Transportation Management Inc.: +1 (718) 822-4169, email: [email protected]

For local van and truck deliveries in New York City, New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Florida Shuttles
1. ASAP ETC INC (John or Dennis): +1 (914) 381-6421 email: [email protected]
2. Crossroads Delivery (Arthur): +1 (917) 807-3758, email: [email protected]
3. ArtWay Fine Art Services (Lenny): +1 (718) 213-6886 email: [email protected]
Clients are free to choose their own shippers. We are not liable for the actions of any outside shippers and these recommendations are provided only for convenience.

To pick-up your items in person
Please call us at +1 (212) 717-7500 to make an appointment to pick up your items in person. If someone else whose name is not on the invoice will be picking up on your behalf, please email or fax us authorizing us to release your property to that person. Payment for all items must have been received and cleared, before merchandise can be released. Please note that the collection of sales tax is required on all pickups made in-person by anyone other than a licensed shipper.

October 15, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Bedford Hills, NY, US

Shapiro Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$1 - $999,999:
30.00%
$1,000,000 - $4,499,999:
25.00%
$4,500,000+:
18.90%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $25,000
$500,000 $999,999 $50,000
$1,000,000 + $100,000