LOT DETAILS

Materials:

Glazed earthenware

Measurements:

29.00 in. (73.66 cm.) (height)

Markings:

Incised signature running down the back of Peter to the right side of the rooster: VIKTOR SCHRECKENGOST

Exhibited:

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, "33rd May Show," May 1 - June 10, 1951.

Literature:

H. Adams, Viktor Schreckengost: American Da Vinci, Tide-Mark Press LTD., Windsor, Connecticut, 2006, p. 61.In his notes on Saint Peter, Viktor described that he sought to achieve "[a] surprised look on St. Peter's face as he hears the cock crow." The artist's technical details on this sculpture state: "CLAY: Fetzer red sculpture clay 70%, Dalton 30%. ENGOBE: Blackbird. GLAZE: C with 2% underglaze S 82 yellow. Wiped to highlight beard etc. Rooster, raw crackle glaze ran, sand blasted and light overspray of C with heavy C stained with iron Chromate. Copper Chromate on Rooster. FIRE: Bisque Cone 04; Glaze Cone 06, 06."According to Adams, Saint Peter was rediscovered by Craig Bara, archivist to Viktor Schreckengost, just prior to the 2000 retrospective exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was found "in Viktor's attic, where it had languished for thirty to forty years." The work is significant within Viktor's oeuvre because it belongs to a relatively small, but emotionally powerful cluster of religious sculpture which Viktor produced during his lifetime. In portraying Saint Peter, the artist chose the moment of the disciple's awareness that he had, in fact, thrice denied Jesus--something Jesus had predicted he would do. Full of this recognition, Peter looks startled, and is sliding toward shame. The twist of the neck, the sag of the glaze, and the darkening splotches on his countenance drive home Peter's awareness of his betrayal.