In the early 1970s, David Hanna began to turn his attention to sculpture, working in clay with casting in bronze. Roman Athlete, 1972, is a striking production based on a mid-16th century Italian sculpture Seated Male Figure of uncertain attribution in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s European Sculpture collection. Roman Athlete was Hanna’s first work in bronze with a limited edition of 10, debuting in a special installation at his second solo show in New York City that summer. The work, the invitation read, “has been hand cast in the lost wax process by Tallix Foundry.” Tallix, later Polich Tallix and purchased in 2019 by UAP remains one of the country’s premiere fine art foundries.
Roman Athlete, 1972, Bronze, 11 x 11 ½ x 6 in., limited edition of 10 ©️ David Hanna Trust
Standing Nude, 1980-81, Bronze, 23 x 8 x 5 in., 2 limited editions of 10 each ©️ David Hanna Trust
