Artwork Details
- Title
- African Elephant Scenting Danger
- Artist
- Date
- after 1926
- Location
- Dimensions
- 31 5⁄8 x 28 3⁄4 x 8 1⁄4 in. (80.2 x 72.9 x 20.8 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Gift of the artist
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- bronze
- Classifications
- Keywords
- Animal — elephant
- Object Number
- 1948.9.1
Artwork Description
Wild animals were Eli Harvey’s favorite subject matter. The elephant that “sat” for African Elephant Scenting Danger had been driven mad from seeing his mate killed, and he became very agitated as Harvey modeled him. At one point, he nearly upset Harvey’s modeling stand by grabbing the leg and shaking it with his trunk. The finished sculpture shows the elephant in his most defensive stance. As he anticipates an attack, he raises his trunk to smell the air and tries to locate his enemy.