Ram

Bessie Stough Callender, Ram, ca. 1930, granite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harold Callender, 1960.8.3
Copied Bessie Stough Callender, Ram, ca. 1930, granite, 17 34918 in. (45.123.045.6 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harold Callender, 1960.8.3

Artwork Details

Title
Ram
Date
ca. 1930
Dimensions
17 34918 in. (45.123.045.6 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Harold Callender
Mediums
Mediums Description
granite
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — sheep
Object Number
1960.8.3

Artwork Description

Bessie Stough Callender was inspired to sculpt Ram after visiting a "copious" exhibit of Persian art in London. She was so entranced by the sculptures and reliefs that she started researching and copying ancient depictions of animals. The compact form, stylized head, and large horns of Ram resemble the ancient Persian and Mesopotamian monuments that Callender saw during her studies and frequent visits to the Louvre Museum, in Paris. (Harold Callender, Fun Tomorrow: The Story of an Artist and a Way of Life, 1953)