Baboon

Copied Paul Manship, Baboon, modeled 1932, cast posthumously, bronze, 11 147 127 in. (28.619.117.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1971.12

Artwork Details

Title
Baboon
Artist
Date
modeled 1932, cast posthumously
Dimensions
11 147 127 in. (28.619.117.8 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — monkey
Object Number
1971.12

Artwork Description

Paul Manship's large figural groups are idealized and refer to mythic characters and stories. The artist used the same stylization in his animal sculptures as in his figural groups, but to different effect. In an intimate scale, this stylization accentuates the decorative quality of each animal. By exaggerating certain features or expressions, Manship also lets a little bit of their personalities peek through. This is especially visible in his gilded works, where the gold patina highlights the contours of the animal's forms and their precise surface details. Many of Manship's animal sculptures were originally created as part of his design for the gates of New York’s Bronx Zoo.