Flames of Life - Dallas, Texas
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txoilgas
N 32° 48.019 W 096° 49.665
14S E 703398 N 3631239
This soaring 62-foot, 8,500-pound bronze sculpture was created in 1978 by Prince Monyo Mihailescu Nasturel of Romania, and stands in front of the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
Waymark Code: WM7HV5
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/28/2009
Views: 7
The sculpture was produced by H.R.H. Prince Monyo Mihailescu-Nasturel, an internationally acclaimed sculptor of rough and polished bronze.
Being born into Romania's royal family during 1926 was not the clear pathway into art one might expect, but it did enable Prince Monyo's release after seven years of imprisonment at the hands of the Communist who occupied his homeland. Rescued from captivity through formal requests from U.S. diplomat Henry Cabot Lodge and the United Nations, Prince Monyo came to the United States during the early 1960s.
In an effort to survive the memories of his turbulent-imprisoned past, the Prince Monyo says he first began shaping clay, "…just to reflect my thoughts." Then during a 1962 visit to Mexico City, Prince Monyo’s art career was afforded a commercial opportunity for public acceptance and his overwhelming, worldwide success has been spread over the 40-years since.
A prolific modern day sculptor, Prince Monyo was born in Bucharest, Romania on March 5, 1926, the son of wealthy investor and landowner, and who would grow up in the castle of his ancestors. During the early years, his life was augmented with servants, chauffeurs, and yachting on the Black Sea. Formal education for the young Prince later included a doctorate in ancient history and religion, from the prestigious and historic – University of Sorbonne in Paris, France, and a mechanical engineering degree in from the University of Bucharest in Romania.
A life that began in a castle then later to prison, before returning to freedom, represents a volatile beginning for a member of European royalty. Finding solitude in his artistic endeavors through clay, Prince Monyo was able to craft a totally new beginning. His timeless sculptures in bronze convey a feeling of simplicity and comfort, while their energy affords the viewer a glimpse of the drama that has been his life.
TITLE: Flames of Life
ARTIST(S): Mihailescu-Nasturel, Monyo, 1926- , sculptor.
DATE: 1979
MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: brick.
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS TX000265
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Hilton Anatole Hotel
2201 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, Texas
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
Change in hotel name.
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Visit Instructions:
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