Martin Isler

Martin Isler (November 25, 1926 – February 2, 2013) was an American sculptor and Egyptologist.^[1]^[2] His sculpture was primarily direct carving in marble and his archeological work focused on ancient technology, especially building methods. Isler started work as an independent patent illustrator, providing pen and ink drawings to be incorporated into patent applications.

He married Natalie Horwitz and they had two sons, Edward Robert and Jeffrey Alan.^[3]

Books and journals

Sticks, Stones, and Shadows: Building the Egyptian Pyramids, University of Oklahoma Press (2001).ISBN 0-8061-3342-2^[4]
The World and I, Lessons of the Pyramids (06/2002).
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt.^[5]

1976, Vol. 13 - "Ancient Egyptian Methods of Raising Weights," frontispiece, pp.31-41, pl. 2, 3.
1983, Vol. 20 - "Concerning the Concave Faces on the Great Pyramid," pp. 27-32.
1985, Vol. 22 - "On Pyramid Building," pp. 129-142.
1987, Vol. 24 - "On Pyramid Building 2," p.95-112.
1989, Vol. 26 - "An Ancient Method of Finding and Extending Direction," pp. 191-206.
1991, Vol. 28 - "The Gnomon in Egyptian Antiquity," pp. 155-185.
1987, Vol. 73 - "The Curious Luxor Obelisks," pp. 137-147. The Journal of Egyptian Antiquity.
1991, Vol. 7- "The Merkhet," pp. 53-67. Varia Aegyptiaca.
1992, Vol. 48 - "The Technique of Monolithic Carving," pp. 45-55. Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologische

Sculptures, works

Isler went on to carve 28 pieces in marble between 1965 and 2012. From Isler’s summary notes:

Natalie (1965) Life size, 13”x 10”x 10” Statuary Marble
Untitled (1966) Life Size, 25.5”x 18”x 15” Statuary Marble
Natalie II (1968) Life Size, 71”x 17”x 17” Select Marble
Seated Woman with Tiara (1970) Life Size, 41”x 35”x 26” Statuary Marble ^[6]
Standing Woman with Signet Ring (1971) Life Size, 70”x 25”x 17” Statuary Marble
One More Unfortunate (1973) Life Size, 11” x 12” x 10” Statuary Marble
Repose (1973) Life Size, 8.5”x 12”x 13” Select Marble
Godhead (1973) Over Life Size, 13”x 10”x 10” Select Marble
Woman with Large Hat (1974) Life Size, 41”x 15.5”x 25” Statuary Marble
Ecstatic Caryatid (1975) Life Size, 15”x 8”x 9” Statuary Marble
She Was a Phantom of Delight (1995) Life Size, 20”x 14”x 8” Statuary Marble
From Maytime (1976) Life Size, 11”x 7”x 9” Radio Black Marble
Homage to Nefertiti (1976) Life Size 15”x 9” x 10” Radio Black Marble
No Stronger than a Flower (1977) Life Size, 15’’x 11”x 8” Statuary Marble
Bald Venus (1977) Life Size, 66”x 15”x 14” Statuary Marble
Angry Stone (2002) Life Size, 12”x 10”x 11” Radio Black Marble
Neck Offering (2004) 10.5” x 8.5” x 15” Select Marble
Kate (2006) Life Size, 10.5”x 9.5”x 9” Select Marble
Madame X (2006) Life Size, 17”x 12.5”x 9” Radio Black Marble^[7]
Young Ballerina (2008) Life Size, 21”x 15”x 10” Radio Black Marble
Odette (2009) Life Size, 15”x12”x 9” Select Marble^[8]
Boxer (2009) Life Size, 11.5”x 9”x 5” Radio Black Marble
Nefertiti (2010) Half Life Size, 10.5” x 9” x 5” Bardiglio Marble
Black Swan (2010) Half life-size, 17.5” x 6” x 8.5” Radio Black Marble
Anthropomorphic Swan (2011) 14.5”x14.5” x 4.5” Radio Black Marble^[9]
Odile (2012) 13”x10.5” x 7” Cararra Marble
Emerging Man (2012) 11.5” x 7” x 5” Radio Black Marble
Samson (2012) 13” x 9” x 5” Radio Black Marble

Drawings

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids” (1999).^[10]
The Bruce Museum, “The Art of Time and Marking Time” (2000).^[11]

References

^ "Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan". Newspapers.com. 1992-11-04.
^ "The Pyramids: Gateways to the Stars". Historicaleve. 2021-09-07.
^ Ross, Jeannette. "Martin Isler, 86". The Wilton Bulletin.
^ Aveni, Anthony (2002). "Review of Sticks, Stones, and Shadows: Building the Egyptian Pyramids". Journal of Anthropological Research. 58 (4): 561–563. ISSN 0091-7710.
^ Egypt, American Research Center in (2002). Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt. American Research Center in Egypt.
^ Making of Seated Woman with Tiara. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via www.youtube.com.
^ "Martin Isler Madame X Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com.
^ "Martin Isler Odette Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
^ "Martin Isler Anthropomorphic Swan Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com.
^ "Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org.
^ Liebenson, Bess (2000-03-19). "Measuring Time: Journeys of the Sun, the Moon and More". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

[1] "Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan". Newspapers.com. 1992-11-04.

[2] "The Pyramids: Gateways to the Stars". Historicaleve. 2021-09-07.

[3] Ross, Jeannette. "Martin Isler, 86". The Wilton Bulletin.

[4] Aveni, Anthony (2002). "Review of Sticks, Stones, and Shadows: Building the Egyptian Pyramids". Journal of Anthropological Research. 58 (4): 561–563. ISSN 0091-7710.

[5] Egypt, American Research Center in (2002). Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt. American Research Center in Egypt.

[6] Making of Seated Woman with Tiara. Retrieved 2024-08-28 – via www.youtube.com.

[7] "Martin Isler Madame X Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com.

[8] "Martin Isler Odette Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.

[9] "Martin Isler Anthropomorphic Swan Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com.

[10] "Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org.

[11] Liebenson, Bess (2000-03-19). "Measuring Time: Journeys of the Sun, the Moon and More". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

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