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Description
‘Adam und Eva’
Biography: Fritz Röll
‘The ancient eternal German Couple Adam and Eve by Fritz Röll’.
Bronzes, designed in ancient Gothic style. Created in 1935.
Single unique casts, with the core still inside (see X-ray photos below).
Casts of the bronze couple ‘Adam und Eva’ by Fritz Röll were displayed at the:
– ‘Frühjahrs-Ausstellung’, 1934, Preussische Akademie der Künste, Berlin (wax-model);
– exhibition ‘100 Jahre Deutsche Kunst‘, Helsinki, 1936;
– GDK 1937 room 38.
In the 1934-exhibition catalog of the Preussische Akademie der Künste, the displayed wax models are described as: ‘Für den Altareingang einer Kirche’ (‘For the entranche of the Altar of a Church’).
One other identical cast of the sculpture-set ‘Adam und Eva’ is known to exist. The male and female figures are each signed ‘F. Röll’ on the base; on the base of the female figure is also inscribed ‘1935’.
Direct Lost-Wax Casting – the Single Unique Cast
In the direct lost-wax casting process (also named ‘cire perdue’), the sculptor begins by building a roughly modelled clay-core over a metal armature. The clay-core is baked to harden it and drive off moisture, and then a relatively thin layer of wax is applied that receives the detailing of anatomy, texture, facial features and signature. A mold is formed around the wax-model, when the mold is heated the wax melts and creates a space into which molten bronze is poured. Once the bronze is cast, the clay-core and armature can be removed to lessen the weight of the finished sculpture. Occasionally the core and armature rods are -in whole or in part- left inside the bronze. On sculptures meant to be placed outdoors, the clay-core and iron-armature are generally removed in order to avoid damage from absorption of water.
The direct lost wax technique allows the artist to cast directly off of the original model, and is ideal for wax models with complex surface textures as well as large and complex compositions. This casting method produces a Single Unique Cast from a Single Model (as opposed to one that is cast from a mold of an existing model). The original master model is lost in the casting process: producing more copies of the master model is impossible.
When X-ray photos show iron armature or internal frame inside the bronze, it is evident that the direct lost wax casting technique was used and that we have to do with the original cast/model.
X-ray photos of Adam and Eve by Röll. Clearly visible are the several iron wires from the core inside.
‘The ancient eternal German Couple Adam and Eve by Fritz Röll’ (Bundesarchiv)
Below a photo from ‘Adam und Eva’ by Röll, in the possession of the Bundesarchiv. The original accompanying text from 1935 reads: ‘Fritz Röll from the Rhön is representing the ancient eternal German couple Adam and Eve, man and woman, in two marvelous figures. The expression of the seduction, the self-evidence of the positions, show splendid German design and a clear uncomplicated fantasy’
(‘Fritz Röll aus der Rhön stellt das uralt ewige deutsche Paar Adam und Eva, den Mann und das Weib, in zwei bezaubernden Figürchen dar. Der Ausdruck und die Haltung der Verführung, die Selbstverständlichkeit der Stellungen zeigen bestes deutsches Formgefühl und eine klare einfache Phantastik.)
In the creation of Adam und Eva, Fritz Röll was inspired by the Conrat Meit (1480 – 1551), the German-born Late Gothic and Renaissance sculptor. However, looking to the haircut and body shape of Adam, he might also have taken some inspiration from German sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider (1460 – 1531). The Adam-sculpture is the Gothic ideal of male beauty: a skinny man instead of a muscular man.
Left: ‘Adam und Eva’ by Conrat Meit. Boxwood. Height: 36 and 34 cm. In the possession of the Schlossmuseum Friedenstein in Gotha.
Right: ‘Adam und Eva’ by Tilman Riemenschneider. In the possession of the Museum für Franken, Staatliches Museum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte in Würzburg.
| – condition | : II |
| – size | : height 30,6 cm and 29,2 cm |
| – signed | : at the bases ‘F Röll’ and ‘1935’ |
| – type | : bronze. Black patina |
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