Torso

Copied Walker Hancock, Torso, 1927, limestone, 15 3411 148 14 in. (40.028.521.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1983.29

Artwork Details

Title
Torso
Date
1927
Dimensions
15 3411 148 14 in. (40.028.521.0 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
limestone
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure male — nude
  • Figure male — torso
Object Number
1983.29

Artwork Description

In 1925, Walker Hancock won the coveted Prix de Rome, which gave him the opportunity to study at the American Academy in Rome. While in Italy, he created this piece from Abruzzi limestone, carving directly into the stone without the use of a clay model. The twisted pose of Torso defines the figure’s muscles, conveying an unmistakable strength and energy. Hancock appears to have borrowed the pose from a figure of a god found on the pediment of the Parthenon.