Modern Art Foundry Casts

World War 1 Monument 

for

Saratoga Park, Brooklyn, NY

SARATOGA PARK MONUMENT (life-size figure and two honor rolls), bronze, 2014

In 1920, James S. J. Novelli, an Italian-American sculptor and prolific monument maker was commissioned to model a World War I monument for Saratoga Park in Brooklyn, NY. The Saratoga Monument consists of a granite plinth and two cast bronze honor rolls listing 106 local soldiers who died during the war that flank a life-size allegorical figure, also cast bronze. It is believed that in 1970, the two honor rolls went missing and in 2000 the figure was stolen. From that time until just a few weeks ago, the granite slab stood bare in Saratoga Park.

The Re-dedication Ceremony at Saratoga Park 

September 10, 2014

 

As part of a city parks restoration contract, working with Fina Gonzalez of WBE Unlimited Corporation, Modern Art Foundry hired professional  sculptor Anatoly S. Mikhailov to model a replica sculpture from photographs and the remaining bronze fragments of the original work. Anatoly has worked for us before, most recently modeling a life-size figure of George M. Steinbrenner III located in the main lobby of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY, and a life-size Abraham Lincoln for a private collector. In addition to modeling and casting the Saratoga figure, the two honor rolls were also recast. 

"It is almost always incredibly interesting and exciting to be part of restoring historically significant work. Using reference documents and images, you feel a sense of time travel as you set out to repeat what was once completed and presented to the public. The process from start to finish is very engaging."  ~ Jeffrey Spring

Modern Art Foundry
Astoria, New York
www.modernartfoundry.com

Anatoly S. Mikhailov website: www.amcreativeart.com
Photo Credits: Maria Mikhailov