Robert Tait McKenzie
Sculptor - Robert Tait McKenzie
Title - Portrait of Emmeline Bedell
Sand Cast Bronze
Roman Bronze Works N.Y.
Dated 1909
25 1/2" height by 12 3/4" width
(65 cm by 30 cm)
Robert Tait McKenzie (1867-1938) was born on May 26th 1867 in Almonte, Ontario, Canada and died in Philadelphia.He was a doctor and a graduate of McGill University, class of 1892. Upon his graduation he was appointed as director of physical education and demonstrator of anatomy at McGill. In 1904 he was appointed physical education director at the University of Pennsylvania where he stayed until his retirement in 1930. It was his teachings in anatomy and medicine that first led him into sculpture and his first recorded bronze was in 1902 of a series of four masks depicting fatigue.His first models were his student athletes and his work consists of portrait busts and plaques as well as statues. His only recorded monumental work was the bas-relief titled Joy of Effort for the wall of the Stockholm Olympic stadium for which he was to receive a special Olympic Gold Medal from the King of Sweden in 1912.
This Bas relief portrait plaque was cast in 1909 by the Roman Bronze works foundry in New York City. It has it's original wide wood frame which sets off the plaque.
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