Born 1897 in Boston, Donald De Lue studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School. He worked under several established sculptors in America and France and then as chief assistant to Bryan Baker in New York City. His work first won recognition in 1938 when he was runner-up in a competition for the Federal Trade Commission Building in Washington, D.C. This led to several government commissions, the first of which were reliefs for the Philadelphia courthouse, completed in 1940.

In his prolific career of almost fifty years De Lue probably executed more monumental sculptural commissions than anyone else of his generation. Among his large scale works in bronze, marble and granite works are historical figures for the state of Louisiana Memorial; sculpture of Thomas Jefferson in bronze for Jefferson Park, Louisiana; sculptures for the Bicentennial Court House in Philadelphia; University of Pennsylvania; American Exporter Memorial, New York City; Chapels at West Point and Arlington, Virginia; Federal Reserve Bank, Boston and Philadelphia; United States Military Cemetery Memorial, Omaha Beach; St. Laurent, Normandy, France; The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas; sculptures in bronze for the Plaza of Astronauts, New York Worlds Fair, 1964-65; and many other government and WPA projects.He was also an accomplished medalist and a member of the National Sculpture Society.

Donald De Lue was an associate member of the National Academy of Design, a member of the National Sculptor Society, National Institute of Arts and Letters, Royal Society of Art, American Artists Professional League, and the Architectural League.

He received awards from the Architectural League, 1942 (prizes), 1951 (medal); National Sculpture Society, 1942, 1946 (gold medal); Guggenheim Fellowship, 1943-44; National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1945 (medal); Allied Artists of America, 1946; American Artists Professional League, (gold medal); Sculptor of the Year Award; American Numismatic Association, 1979 (medal); and the Brookgreen Gardens Award, 1979; among many others.

Once De Lue had mastered drawing live models, he preferred working from his memory and imagination. De Lue stated, “A model is a placid thing that stands still and has no movement...there is no energy to it. When I draw a figure it has activity and movement.” De Lue's figure drawings are experiments in gesture, movement, and theme, while always reflecting his refined sense of composition and anatony. Through the contrasting play of lines, assertive and powerful, graceful and delicate, he imbues his sketches with a remarkable quality of life and energy.

Untitled (Nude Goddess with Putto)-- c.1917, Pencil.

Unsigned.

Image size 9 15/16 x 7 3/4 inches (252 x 197 mm).

A fine early figurative drawing, on cream wove stationary, the image extending to the sheet edges, in excellent condition; hinged to dark-gray backing paper with laser-printed signature facsimile.

$750.

Untitled (Male Nude Satyr)-- c.1917, Pencil.

Unsigned.

Image size 11 x 7 1/4 inches (279 x 184 mm); sheet size 14 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches (375 x 191 mm).

A fine early figurative drawing, on pale gray-cream wove stationary, the image extending to the sheet edges, in excellent condition; hinged to dark-gray backing paper with laser-printed signature facsimile.

$800.

Untitled (Female Nude Enclosing)-- c.1917, Pencil.

Unsigned.

Image size 4 7/8 x 4 1/2 inches (124 x 114 mm); sheet size 8 1/2 x 11 inches (216 x 279 mm).

A fine early figurative drawing, on cream wove stationary, the image extending to the sheet edges, in excellent condition; hinged to dark-gray backing paper with laser-printed signature facsimile.

$650.

Untitled (Female Nude in Counterpoint)-- c.1917, Pencil.

Unsigned.

Image size 10 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches (267 x 146 mm); sheet size 11 1/8 x 7 3/8 inches (283 x 187 mm).

A fine early figurative drawing, on buff wove stationary, the image extending to the sheet edges, in excellent condition; hinged to dark-gray backing paper with laser-printed signature facsimile.

$700.

Untitled (Male Nude Turning)-- c.1917, Pencil.

Unsigned.

Image size 9 7/8 x 6 inches (251 x 152 mm); sheet size 10 3/8 x 8 inches (264 x 203 mm).

A fine early figurative drawing, on cream wove stationary, the image extending to the sheet edges, in excellent condition; hinged to dark-gray backing paper with laser-printed signature facsimile.

$800.

Untitled (Female Nude with Demon Head)-- c.1917, Pencil.

Unsigned.

Image size 9 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches (248 x 171 mm); sheet size 11 x 8 1/2 inches (279 x 216 mm).

A fine early figurative drawing, on cream wove stationary, the image extending to the sheet edges, in excellent condition; hinged to dark-gray backing paper with laser-printed signature facsimile.

$800.