Alexander Phimister Proctor (1860-1950)
Stalking Panther, 1891-1892
bronze
10 x 38 x 6.5 inches
inscribed: A Phimister Proctor 1891-1892, Copyright
stamped: JNO Williams Inc/Bronze Foundry NY

Alexander Phimister Proctor, born in Ontario, Canada, gained renown as a sculptor specializing in life-size wild animals, particularly those of the American West. Alongside pen and ink drawings and small oil paintings, he sculpted historical subjects. Proctor's early masterpiece, Stalking Panther, melded childhood observations in Colorado with studies from New York's Central Park Zoo and anatomical dissections. Exhibited at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, it later was featured at the Society of American Artists in New York. Refining the piece in Paris, Proctor meticulously crafted its second version using a shaved cat for anatomical accuracy, capturing both the physicality and predatory essence of the panther in bronze. His work continues to shape the genre of Western bronze sculpture, prominently displayed at significant exhibitions including The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Within the exhibition was a cast of Proctor’s Stalking Panther.

The sculpture appears to be in good condition with no damage or evidence of restoration. The surface of the sculpture has a dark brown patina.