Bronze Art & Bronze Sculpture by Sister Marie Henderson

McAuley Images

Bronze Sculpture & Artwork by Sister Marie Henderson, RSM

Where does a bronze sculpture begin?
All of Sister Marie's bronze sculptures and art begin with intense research into the character, history and lifestyle of the person whom she intends to artistically capture. She then models her interpretation of that individual in clay, continuing to refine and define the features she wants most represented in her work. Once she is satisfied that she has captured the uniqueness of the individual, she then takes the clay original to a foundry in Kalamazoo, MI.

From that point sprues are attached and a rubber mold is made that is cradled in plaster and the original clay sculpture is removed. Wax is poured into the rubber mold in its place. Then the new wax sculpture is pulled from the rubber mold and checked by the artist for accuracy. This method is very precise, even to the inclusion of any fingerprints or precise detail that was found in the original clay.

From this point a ceramic shell mold is then made by dipping the wax repeatedly into slurry, followed each time by coating the wet slurry with sand and a gravel-like substance to build up the ceramic shell. Many dippings are required and after this mold is thoroughly dry it is only then placed in a kiln and the wax melted from the interior.

This leaves a perfect impression into which the molten bronze can be poured. If the original bronze art was complicated, multiple ceramic shells would be made and the pouring of bronze would occur into each. Then ceramic shells would be broken and chipped away and the final bronze would be free. The last steps include the cleaning of the bronze, welding of all pieces together and lastly, the application of the patina.

This method is known as the lost wax method and is age old. Sculptures are available in your choice of two patinas that include:

	golden brown
	green

Catherine McAuley, Lifesize

Lifesize representation of Catherine McAuley

Bronze Busts, Lifesize

Bronze Bust of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy

Bronze Bust of Frances Warde, first Sister of Mercy to establish a foundation in the U.S.

Bronze Reliefs

Catherine McAuley with two children

	"The Spirit of Mercy" relief sculpture features figures of Catherine McAuley, Nelson Mandella, Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa & Elizabeth Seton set alongside the Baggot Street foundation
	"Friends of Catherine McAuley"
	Bronze relief sculpture of Catherine McAuley
	Bronze relief sculpture of Catherine McAuley circa 1831
	Commissioned portrait sculpture, such as that of Sister Mary Alphonsus Mulroy of Nampa, Idaho
	Bronze relief, lifesize, sculpture of St. Thomas More, patron saint of politicians & attorneys

Bronze Table Sculpture

	Bronze sculpture of Catherine McAuley
	Bronze Sculpture of Catherine McAuley & Catherine Seton
	Bronze Sculpture of Catherine McAuley & St. Elizabeth Seton

Catherine McAuley Prints

All prints are matted, framed in wood and arrive ready for display.

Catherine McAuley Notecards

Stocked cards are available as pictured. Customized cards, with a variety of quotes, are available on commission for the same price.

bronze sculpture, bronze art, bronze sculpture, bronze art, bronze sculpture, bronze art, bronze sculpture, Catherine McAuley, Catherine McAuley, McAuley Images, McAuley Images, bronze art, Sisters of Mercy, Sister of Mercy, Sisters of Mercy, Sister of Mercy, sister of mercy, sisters of mercy, McAuley Images, McAuley Images, McAuley Images