Arcus

Arcus

Arcus by Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová is an exceptionally striking glass sculpture dating from 1993–1995 and a fitting final lot of the Art Gallery Cafe St Wenceslas Auction. The monumental principles characteristic of this celebrated artistic partnership are concentrated here into a more intimate sculptural object whose true visual power is revealed through light. The sculpture is executed in substantial cast glass of an exceptionally subtle light violet to grey-violet tone. Its colour, however, is far from static. Depending on the intensity, direction and character of the incident light, the object shifts from almost smoky grey through muted dusty pink and violet to more pronounced hues. Under ultraviolet illumination it undergoes a dramatic transformation: due to the uranium component of the glass, intense green, turquoise, blue and violet tones emerge from within the material. Light is one of the fundamental artistic elements in the work of Libenský and Brychtová. Rather than merely illuminating the surface, it penetrates the mass of the glass, refracts through the cut surfaces and reveals variations in the thickness of the material. Arcus is therefore not a static sculpture in the conventional sense; its visual appearance changes according to its surroundings, the time of day and the manner in which it is illuminated. Formally, the sculpture is built upon the contrast between a simple outer arch and a dramatically articulated interior space. The rounded, almost architectural mass is penetrated by a deep geometric intervention suggesting a passage, gateway or opening arch – an association reflected in the title Arcus, Latin for “arch”. Viewed from different angles, the internal geometry continually assembles and dissolves, offering surprisingly different visual experiences. Particularly impressive is the illusion of another space existing within the compact mass of glass. The sharp lines of the cut elements contrast with the soft curvature of the outer silhouette, creating tension between mass and void, transparency and opacity, light and shadow. This ability to transform massive glass into a medium for light and space is among the defining qualities of the joint work of Libenský and Brychtová. Stanislav Libenský (1921–2002) and Jaroslava Brychtová (1924–2020) formed one of the most important artistic partnerships in international glass art of the 20th century. Their collaboration played a fundamental role in transforming cast glass from the sphere of applied art into an autonomous sculptural medium. Libenský developed the concepts, drawings and colour solutions, while Brychtová brought an exceptional understanding of space, modelling and the physical realization of the works in glass. Their monumental and intimate sculptures are represented in major museum and private collections worldwide. The present Arcus bears the engraved marking “LIBENSKÝ BRYCHTOVÁ 93–95” along the lower edge, allowing the work to be dated to 1993–1995. The significance of the present example is further enhanced by its provenance from the Svatý Martin Collection and its documented exhibition history. The sculpture was exhibited at Galerie Černá růže in Benešov nad Ploučnicí between 1997 and 2000. It therefore combines exceptional visual qualities with a specific collecting and exhibition history. As a display piece, Arcus is exceptionally effective. In ordinary daylight its restrained violet-grey colour gives it an elegant, almost minimalist character and allows its sculptural form to dominate. Under directed illumination, however, an internal world of colour begins to emerge, while under UV light the transformation becomes dramatic. The catalogue photographs therefore intentionally show the sculpture under different lighting conditions: these are not different colour variants, but the same object demonstrating its remarkable response to light. CURATOR'S TIP: This is the piece I want to close the auction with. Arcus is exactly the kind of glass for which an ordinary photograph can show you a beautiful sculpture, but only when you begin to experiment with light do you understand why Libenský and Brychtová became internationally celebrated. In daylight it is delicately violet, at times almost grey; under different illumination it becomes warmer – and under UV light green, turquoise, blue and violet appear to glow from inside the glass. The object itself has not changed; only the light has. Add to this its provenance from the Svatý Martin Collection and exhibition history from 1997–2000, and it becomes a truly special piece with which to conclude the auction. FOR INVESTORS: Works by Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová occupy an internationally important position within Czech studio glass. This example combines the Arcus sculptural concept, sophisticated optical treatment of a substantial glass mass, a uranium component, the engraved “LIBENSKÝ BRYCHTOVÁ 93–95” marking, provenance from the Svatý Martin Collection, and documented exhibition history at Galerie Černá růže in Benešov nad Ploučnicí from 1997 to 2000. The starting price of CZK 90,000 positions this exceptional work very attractively within the auction. It is one of the principal glass works in the sale – deliberately selected as its final lot.