59 - SIR WILLIAM REID DICK R.A. (BRITISH, 1879-1961): A BRONZE FIGURE OF 'SLING BOY' C. 1915

SIR WILLIAM REID DICK R.A. (BRITISH, 1879-1961): A BRONZE FIGURE OF 'SLING BOY' C. 1915 Exhibited at the Liverpool Exhibition of Modern Art 1915 depicting a nude boy aiming his catapult, on a naturalistic base, dark brown patination, signed 'W. Reid Dick', on a rectangular marble plinth with paper label to underside inscribed 'LIVERPOOL 1915 DICKSEE & CO. the bronze 31.5cm high Provenance: Dicksee & Co. (originally based at 7 Duke Street, St. James's, London) was one of the most prominent fine art agents, packers, and insurance brokers in the UK during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The label marks the artwork's inclusion in the 1915 Liverpool Autumn Exhibition of Modern Art, held annually at the Walker Art Gallery. The 1915 event was specifically organized as the Liverpool Red Cross Autumn Exhibition to support the war effort during World War I. Catalogue Note: Also known as 'The Slingshot' and 'The Catapult', Reid Dick first exhibited his bronze of the Sling Boy at the Royal Academy in 1911. This example was 60cm high and is now in the Bradford City Art Gallery, Cartwright Hall. A further example at 63cm high was sold at Bonhams, London, 4 November 2015, lot 297; it came direct from the sculptor's family and realised £26,000 hammer. Related literature: D. Wardleworth, William Reid Dick, Sculptor, Ashgate, p.160. H. Granville Fell, Sir William Reid Dick, KCVO, RA, London, 1945, pl. 2. J. Cooper, Nineteenth Century Romantic Bronzes: French, English and American Bronzes 1830-1915, Devon, 1975, pp. 97-8.