Leonhard Posch

Leonhard Posch
Fügen 1750–1831 Berlin
Relief of St. Paul
Designed around 1818
Ivory relief 14 × 11 × 3 cm, with frame 28 × 25 cm
CITES available

This exquisite relief of St. Paul, created by Leonhard Posch, is an outstanding work in the genre of ivory carving. Posch, a versatile sculptor, medallist and wax modeller, was born in Fügen in 1750 and died in Berlin in 1831. He is best known for his finely crafted and detailed portrait formats. His training and artistic development in Vienna and Berlin led to a remarkable oeuvre of more than 200 portrait models, with which he revolutionized the genre of iron art casting.
The relief shows the saint in profile, with short, curly hair and a long, luxuriant beard, which lends him wisdom and authority. His left hand is placed in front of his body and is depicted in particularly rich detail. For the saint’s clothing, Posch chose an artfully carved robe with finely graded textures. Striking, bushy eyebrows frame his deep-set eyes; his face is lined with wrinkles and bright, with a distinctive, pointed nose.
The materiality of ivory plays a central role in miniature reliefs. Due to its fine texture and color nuances, ivory was a highly prized material for precise carvings. It not only lends the relief a special elegance, but also helps to preserve the fine details that characterize Posch’s work. This depiction is otherwise only preserved in museums as a wax impression or in iron casting, for example in the Vienna Technical Museum (inv. no. 16130/1–2).
This bust relief is a remarkable example of Posch’s masterful craftsmanship and illustrates his ability to capture both emotion and character traits in a small, oval format. It is not only an extraordinary work of art, but also an important testimony to ivory carving. The combination of Posch’s virtuosity and the high-quality material makes this relief an outstanding collector’s item for lovers of 18th- and 19th-century art.
Literature: A. Forschler-Tarrasch, Leonhard Posch. Portrait Modeler and Sculptor, 2002, p. 232, no. 873.