In this episode, we’ll be visiting The Archer by Ferdinand Lepcke at the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany.
Ferdinand Lepcke’s sculpture, known as “The Archer” or Bogenspannerin, stands in the collection of Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany. Crafted from bronze, the piece depicts a youthful, unclothed woman in the act of drawing a bow. The figure exhibits classic proportions and an athletic physique, adorned only with Roman-style sandals. Notably, four replicas of this statue are dispersed across various German cities.
The Archer gained significant attention during exhibitions in Munich and Berlin, earning acclaim from both professionals and attendees, as well as garnering positive reviews in the media. The original version of this sculpture is in Poland and it has had quite a history there. At certain periods the sculpture was clothed!
Born on March 23, 1866, Ferdinand Lepcke likely completed the sculpture around 1908, marking one of his final works. Tragically, the artist succumbed to pneumonia in Berlin on March 12, 1909, at the young age of 42.
By Anthony King (c)