Panther and Cubs 1847 - 1855

Henry Kirke Brown’s *Panther and Cubs* is a bronze sculpture, likely made sometime in the mid-19th century. The lost-wax casting process employed here is an indirect one, requiring the artist to first create a detailed model, probably in clay or plaster, and then use that as the basis for a mold. Molten bronze is poured in and, once cooled, the mold is broken away, revealing the sculpture. The result has a wonderful tactile quality, with the surface showing traces of the artist’s hand as well as the foundry’s work. The chasing, or finishing, of the bronze would have been painstaking, as would the application of the final patina. Brown was one of the first American sculptors to oversee the entire bronze casting process in his own studio. The knowledge and skills to create this sculpture didn’t come from nowhere – it was born of traditions of European sculpture and foundry work. It’s easy to see why this image of raw, protective motherhood would have appealed to audiences then, and still does today. Thinking about all the work involved, it brings us closer to the animal energy that Brown has captured so vividly.