Last year the Maximalist had the good fortune to attend an auction of the Ispanky Estate. There was more sculpture than you could shake a stick at. Bronzes, porcelains and artists proofs. The man was a talented and prolific sculptor. His work was chosen by Presidents as gifts from the American people to notables such as Anwar Sadat, Mao Tse Tung, and the Vatican. That was a gentler and more refined era when presidents felt that a state gift should be a treasure and not a personal vanity statement or a pack of DVDs. I assume that his work still graces the museums of these countries and is admired. Some of the proofs of these works were auctioned and smaller copies.
I had no idea that Ispanky was a painter too until I saw the auction preview. Much of the work had a 1960s post-war modernist style and the content was varied. Statement pieces against war were mixed with portraits, abstracts and a few Old Testament religious themes. The most spectacular was "Abraham and Isaac" a huge oil depicting the almost sacrifice of Isaac to God. The Angel is grasping Abraham's hand just as he is about to slay his son. There is a ram in the thicket. You know the story. The colors are breathtaking and the size of the piece makes it awe inspiring and brings the amazing momnet to life.
It is in a private collection now.
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