Richmond Barthé bronze sculpture of Féral Benga, representing the zenith of Barthé's figurative work, and a hallmark of the Harlem Renaissance. Completed in 1935, Barthé sculpted this full-body nude of the cabaret dancer Benga after seeing him perform at the Folies Bergères in Paris the previous year. The lines are both strong and graceful, expressing the power of a black man raising high a sword, contrasted with the elegant movements of a dancer. Its importance to the canon of African-American art is such that it was included in the landmark ''The Negro in Art'', published in 1940. Signed ''Barthé'' upon the base, sculpture was cast circa 1960 at the Modern Art Foundry in New York. Sculpture measures 19'' not including marble base. Near fine. With provenance from the Ascension Gallery in Washington DC.