Stanley Bleifeld
1924-2011
Stanley Bleifeld began his art career as a painter, earning his degrees in art education at Temple University, but a summer visit to Italy in 1959 sparked with him an interest in sculpture. Seeing the Baptistery doors of Ghiberti and the sculpture of Donatello in Florence, Bleifeld knew he wanted to explore the new medium of bronze.
Using Harry Jackson's studio, Bleifeld embarked on his new career. Given the strong influence of the religious sculpture in Italy, for the next ten years Bleifeld chose philosophical or biblical themes for his work. Early recognition came in 1964 when he was elected to the National Sculpture Society. Bleifeld had already been commissioned to sculpt "The Prophets," a ten-by-seven-foot bas relief for the Vatican Pavilion at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. During this period Bleifeld developed a unique style characterized by a bold interplay of rough surfaces and a controlled use of smooth surfaces from which light bounced, giving a dramatic unity to the entire piece.
Bleifeld returned each summer to Pietrasanta, Italy, to have his work cast at the local foundries. He also came for inspiration, and it was the beautiful landscape of Italy that brought about a change in his choice of subject matter. He began to de-emphasize the human figure, creating magnificent landscapes in which he concentrated on form and movement. Rugged form became the hallmark of this artist's brilliantly-executed work.
