Day

Paul Manship, Day, 1938, bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1965.16.46
Copied Paul Manship, Day, 1938, bronze on marble base, 14 1226 125 12 in. (36.967.414.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1965.16.46

Artwork Details

Title
Day
Artist
Date
1938
Dimensions
14 1226 125 12 in. (36.967.414.0 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze on marble base
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — horse
  • Figure male — nude
  • Figure male — full length
  • Allegory — time — day
Object Number
1965.16.46

Artwork Description

Paul Manship created several sculptures for the 1939 New York World's Fair, including the largest sundial in the world, Time and the Fates. Near this piece were placed four statues representing the times of day: Morning, Day, Evening, and Night. In these sculptures, Manship's flying figures expressed the rush toward a bright future promised to all Americans at the fair. The sculpture Day shows the sun god Helios racing forward with "energy, radiation, [and] speed" accompanied by two of his fiery steeds. (Manship Papers, quoted in Paul Manship, Harry Rand, 1989)