Regina Winifred Mulroney ( 1895-1963 )
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Cowgirl and Bronco - 1931 Cast bisque with extensive chasing and light brown patina 11 x 5 x 8 ¾ inches
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Provenance:
Atelier Doré, San Francisco, CA
Born in New York City, Regina Winifred Mulroney studied at the Art Students League and the Cooper Union School before permanently relocating to San Francisco in the 1920s. A figural sculptor working in a modernist vein, she did commission work in both large and small scales, including portrait medallions, garden sculptures and fountain figures. She founded and directed the R.W. Mulroney School of Art, while also remaining active in the local art scene well into the 1950s. During her lifetime, her work was exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the National Academy of Design, and the Salons of America.
Displaying a cubist-like rearrangement of form in space, Cowgirl and Bronco is an imaginative and charming depiction of a cowgirl as she wrangles a wild pony to the ground. Entwined in the limbs of the animal and the folds of her long skirt, the fearless rancher renders the bronco’s hind legs useless with her massive hands. Defeated, the pony relaxes its body, letting its head slump against the woman’s leg. From every angle, the sculpture surprises the viewer with wonderful details and pleasing formal compositions; the six-pointed spurs on her boots and the saddle on the horse’s back are of particular interest. The fired but unglazed ceramic body of the sculpture features extensive chase marks, which create a textured surface that furthers the composition’s already complex play of light and shadow. A playful and engaging work, Cowgirl and Bronco ultimately demonstrates the innovative quality of Mulroney’s style.
