Art & Statues
Early Art Deco Bronze Nude Dancer by Affortunato Gory
Early Art Deco Bronze Nude Dancer by Affortunato Gory
This exceptional bronze sculpture of a nude dancer is a rare and beautifully executed work by Italian born sculptor Affortunato Gory. The figure is signed “A. Gory” on the underside of her foot and rests on its original richly veined marble base.
The kneeling dancer is captured in a graceful, expressive pose, with one arm extended overhead holding a luminous alabaster sphere. Her serene face, carefully modeled hands and feet, elaborate headpiece, and flowing movement reveal Gory’s remarkable ability to combine academic sculptural detail with the emerging elegance of early Art Deco design. The alabaster sphere can be removed for safe transport.
The bronze retains an exceptional dark gilt patina with subtle variations that emphasize the modeling of the figure. The warm bronze, pale alabaster, and richly figured marble create a striking combination of color, texture, and materials.
Gory began his training at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence under Augusto Rivalta. After moving to Paris, he continued his studies with Victorien Antoine Bastet and exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français. Active from the late 19th century until 1925, he created busts, female figures, dancers, and allegorical subjects in bronze, marble, ivory, and alabaster.
This important sculpture reflects the transition from the academic realism of the late 19th century to the movement, theatricality, and refined stylization that would define Art Deco sculpture. Its unusual pose, beautiful original surface, and impressive marble base give it a commanding presence from every angle.
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