Pleistocene Skeleton

Copied Nancy Graves, Pleistocene Skeleton, 1970, steel, wax, marble dust and acrylic, 84 x 120 x 36 in. (213.4 x 304.8 x 91.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2005.8A-E, © 1970, The Nancy Graves Foundation

Artwork Details

Title
Pleistocene Skeleton
Artist
Date
1970
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
84 x 120 x 36 in. (213.4 x 304.8 x 91.4 cm)
Copyright
© 1970, The Nancy Graves Foundation
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
steel, wax, marble dust and acrylic
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — other — skeleton
  • History — prehistoric
  • Animal — unspecified
Object Number
2005.8A-E
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2005.8A-E

Artwork Description

Pleistocene Skeleton plays with perceptions of what is natural and what is invented. Nancy Graves sculpted this deceptively realistic skeleton based on the internal structure of a camel. Graves's abiding fascination with these unique creatures (and nature more generally) began during her childhood visits to the local natural history museum where her father worked. In later years, Graves traveled to North Africa where she observed and filmed herds of camels.