Booklet cover for William Zacha’s solo exhibit at Galleria Schneider in Rome (1981).
“Of all my art work I’ve ever done, I’d most like to sign my name on these.” – Bill Zacha
William Zacha’s bronzetti, small bronze figures from 7” to 14” high, are true hot cast bronze, modeled in wax, between 1973 and 1982 in Mendocino and Rome, then cast using the lost wax method. The earliest bronzetti are solid cast; later figures are hollow cast. None are cold cast (bronze resin).
Many of the Zacha bronzetti are editions of one; with a couple of exceptions, no more than three were cast of any one figure. Most are signed or initialed.
When two or three castings have been made of a Zacha sculpture, the resulting figures are not identical. Subtle differences in dimensions and pose, and differences in William Zacha’s signatures and other notations, indicate the use of separate moulds and make each piece unique.
Zacha’s small bronze nudes are closely observed portraits, capturing the unique bodies and spirits of his models. Zacha studied sculpture with Octavio Medallin, and with Ruth Cravath, but his strong composition in the round, and the honesty and vitality of his bronzetti, have less in common with the work of those early mentors than with the bronzes of Rodin.
Please contact our archivist with photos, new information, or questions about the Zacha Bronzetti. Questions about bronzetti in the Zacha collection will be forwarded to Lucia Zacha.
AJAX
Ajax is the first of the Zacha bronzetti (1973). Two views. Solid cast bronze figure by William Zacha, edition of one. Figure alone: dimensions 11″ x 12.5″ / weight 15 lbs. SKU: WZ197360*
MENDOCINO
Mendocino is the second of the Zacha bronzetti (1973). Two views. Solid cast bronze figure by William Zacha, edition of one. Dimensions 9″ x 8″. SKU: WZ197385*
GANYMEDE
Ganymede: solid cast bronze figure by William Zacha, edition of one, (1973-1974). Two views. Figure alone: dimensions 4″ x 13.5″. SKU: WZ197450
ELDER BROTHER
Elder Brother: solid cast bronze figure by William Zacha, edition of one (1973). Two views. Figure alone: dimensions 10″ x 9.25″ / weight 22 lbs. SKU: WZ197488
TELEMACHUS
Telemachus: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1976). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Figure alone: dimensions 7.25″ x 8″ / weight 8.75 lbs. SKU: WZ197661*
PRIAM I
Priam I: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1977). Three views. Edition mark: 1/6. Figure alone: dimensions 5.5″ x 13.75″ / weight 8 lbs. SKU: WZ197752*
PRIAM II
Priam II: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1977), two views. Projected edition: no more than six. Dimensions, 5.5″ x 13.75″ / weight 8 lbs. SKU: WZ197753*The small opening below the left knee of Priam II (visible in the photograph above) occurred during the casting process, and does not compromise structural integrity of the figure (detail).Priam II carries bold identification inside the back of the left knee: ZACHA ’77 ROMA (detail).
PATROCLUS I
Patroclus I: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1977) Two views. Quantity cast: one. Figure and base together: dimensions 14” x 8.75“ / weight 6 lbs. SKU: WZ197757*
PATROCLUS II
Patroclus II: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1977). Two views. Quantity cast: one. Dimensions including base: 13 ¾” x 8.75”. SKU: WZ197758*
Patroclus I and Patroclus II strongly resemble each other, but are distinctly different. For example, while both figures are running, Patroclus I takes a short stride on a square base, with hips over the center of the base, while Patroclus II takes a longer stride onto the end of a rectangular base. Also, the breadth and modeling of the figures’ chests are not identical, and the clarity of the identification engraved on Patroclus II (ZACHA ’77 ROMA) contrasts with Zacha’s more obscure identification marks on Patroclus I.
ENVOY
Envoy: hollow cast bronze by William Zacha (Rome 1979). Two views. Edition: 5 of 6. Photos courtesy of Antique Orchard. SKU: WZ197930Envoy: hollow cast bronze by William Zacha (Rome 1979). Two views. Edition 5 of 6. Photo courtesy of Antique Orchard. SKU: WZ197930Envoy: hollow cast bronze by William Zacha (Rome 1979). View of base. Photo courtesy of Antique Orchard.
ORION I
Orion I: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1977). Two views. Edition mark: 2/6. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 8.5″ x 10.5″ / weight 7.5 lbs. SKU: WZ197973*
ORION II
Orion II: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1979). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 9.5″ x 8.125″ / weight 7.25 lbs. SKU: WZ197974*
While Orion I and Orion II resemble each other in pose, the positions of the heads, and facial expressions, are each unique.
HECTOR
Hector: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1980). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions, including travertine base, 13.25″ x 6.5″ / weight, including base, 5 lbs. SKU: WZ198053*
ENDYMION
Endymion: hollow cast bronze by William Zacha (1980), figure and base cast separately. Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions, including base, 13.5″ x 9.75″ / weight, including base, 8 lbs. SKU: WZ198069*
Endymion is used here as an example of the difficulty in relying on photographs (and, in some cases, photographers) to provide accurate records of color.
A professional photographer, hired by the Zacha family to provide straightforward documentation of the individual bronzetti, chose instead to “interpret” all the Zacha bronzetti in a dramatic golden bronze.
Views of William Zacha’s Endymion (1980), showing two photographic interpretations of the figure’s patina. Left-hand photo, Zacha family work for hire; right-hand photo by Gartha German. SKU: WZ198069*
The intermediate color is a Zacha technician’s attempt to color correct the works for hire, to more closely resemble the original work, which is reported as “dark chocolate brown.” Gartha German’s photo shows the darkest patina.
The other Zacha bronzetti have a variety of patinas, few of which of which are perfectly represented in photographs.
APOLLODORUS
Apollodorus: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1980). Two views. Edition marked 3/5. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 7.25″ x 12″ / weight 5 lbs. SKU: WZ198070*
ORESTES
Orestes: bronze figure by William Zacha (1980), hollow cast in one piece. Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 9.25 x 4.25″ / weight 5 lbs. SKU: WZ198075
ACTAEON
Actaeon: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1980). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions, including travertine base, 13.5” x 6.3” / weight, including base, 5.3 lbs. SKU: WZ198080*
ACHILLES
Achilles: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (before 1982). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. SKU: WZ198159
ODYSSEUS
Odysseus: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 5.75″ x 12.5 / weight 8 lbs. No base. SKU: WZ198162*
DIOMEDES
Diomedes: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions, including travertine base, 10.5″ x 6.75″ / weight, including base, 9 lbs. SKU: WZ198163*
PALAMEDES
Palamedes: bronze by William Zacha, figure and base, hollow cast in one piece (1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimension 8” x 11.6″ / weight 6.5 lbs. SKU: WZ198165*
HERAKLES
Herakles: bronze figure by William Zacha (1981), hollow cast in one piece. Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 9.25 x 7.25 / weight 7.5 lbs. SKU: WZ198167*
ORPHEUS
Orpheus: bronze figure by William Zacha, hollow cast in one piece (1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 9.25” x 6.25″ / weight 7.25 lbs. SKU: WZ198170*
MENELAUS
Menelaus: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions, including travertine base, 9.875″ x 8.25” / weight, including base, 9 lbs. SKU: WZ198172*
AMPHION
Amphion: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (before 1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. SKU: WZ198178
BEHOLD THE SEA
Behold the Sea: bronze figure by William Zacha, hollow cast in one piece with base (1981). The center view is the cover image from the 1981 exhibit at Galleria Schneider in Rome. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions 8″ x 7″ / weight 5 lbs. SKU: WZ198187
PISTONI
Pistoni: hollow cast bronze by William Zacha (1981). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. WZ198192
MATTHAIOS
Matthaios: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1982). Two views. Quantity cast: no more than three. Dimensions, including travertine base, 9” x 10.875” / weight, including base, 10 lbs. SKU: WZ198282*
VESPERS
Vespers: hollow cast bronze figure by William Zacha (1981). Four views. Quantity cast, one. SKU: WZ198190*
NOTES:
– In individual descriptions, “left” and “right” refer to the figure’s left or right, not the viewer’s.
– Due to the limitations of reproduction, the images here do not represent exact color.The patinas of the individual bronzes range from warm beige through browns and blacks; many of the bronzes are darker than pictured.
