Artist: James Nathan Muir
Year: c. 1981
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 7 ½ x 9 ½ inches
Condition: Excellent
Description: This powerful bronze bust, Southern Steel, by James Nathan Muir, presents a Confederate soldier frozen in a moment of tense resolve. The figure is shown mid-action, his arm raised as he grips a curved saber, the blade arcing above his head with a sense of imminent movement. Muir’s handling of the bronze emphasizes muscular strain and psychological intensity, with deeply modeled facial features that convey fatigue, determination, and the weight of conflict.
The soldier’s uniform and cap are rendered with careful attention to historical detail, grounding the sculpture firmly in the Civil War era while allowing the expressive surface of the bronze to carry emotional depth. The dark patina enhances the dramatic shadows across the face and torso, reinforcing the sculpture’s somber tone. Mounted on a substantial wooden base with an engraved title plaque, the work commands presence and invites close study. The bronze is signed at the base, further confirming its authenticity. Southern Steel stands as a striking example of Muir’s ability to merge historical subject matter with dynamic sculptural storytelling.
Artist: James Nathan Muir
Year: c. 1981
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 7 ½ x 9 ½ inches
Condition: Excellent
Description: This powerful bronze bust, Southern Steel, by James Nathan Muir, presents a Confederate soldier frozen in a moment of tense resolve. The figure is shown mid-action, his arm raised as he grips a curved saber, the blade arcing above his head with a sense of imminent movement. Muir’s handling of the bronze emphasizes muscular strain and psychological intensity, with deeply modeled facial features that convey fatigue, determination, and the weight of conflict.
The soldier’s uniform and cap are rendered with careful attention to historical detail, grounding the sculpture firmly in the Civil War era while allowing the expressive surface of the bronze to carry emotional depth. The dark patina enhances the dramatic shadows across the face and torso, reinforcing the sculpture’s somber tone. Mounted on a substantial wooden base with an engraved title plaque, the work commands presence and invites close study. The bronze is signed at the base, further confirming its authenticity. Southern Steel stands as a striking example of Muir’s ability to merge historical subject matter with dynamic sculptural storytelling.
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