Julius
Richmond BARTHÉ
(American, 1901-1989)
Julius
Dateca. 1940
Mediumplaster of Paris painted with a dark wash
Dimensionsobject: 6 1/2 x 4 in. (16.5 x 10.2 cm)
base: 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 x 5 in. (9.8 x 13 x 12.7 cm)
ClassificationSCULPTURE
Credit LineSBMA, Gift of Ala Story
Object number00.184
Subject(s)
- boys
Collection
- 20th century American
Sub-Collection(s)
- Harlem Renaissance
On View
On viewLabel Text
This small bust is a portrait of Julius, the nephew of photographer Carl Van Vechten’s housekeeper. Born in Mississippi, Barthé eventually moved to New York and became part of the Harlem Renaissance. Though Barthé gained acclaim and commissions from the mainstream white art world, he remained dedicated to portraying Black subjects. In Barthé’s own words: “I hope that my people will look into my works and see a reflection of themselves. I have been trying to hold up a mirror to them and say ‘Look how beautiful you are.’...My dream in life was to make my people proud of me and show them how beautiful the world is."
This small bust is a portrait of Julius, the nephew of photographer Carl Van Vechten’s housekeeper. Born in Mississippi, Barthé eventually moved to New York and became part of the Harlem Renaissance. Though Barthé gained acclaim and commissions from the mainstream white art world, he remained dedicated to portraying Black subjects. In Barthé’s own words: “I hope that my people will look into my works and see a reflection of themselves. I have been trying to hold up a mirror to them and say ‘Look how beautiful you are.’...My dream in life was to make my people proud of me and show them how beautiful the world is."
