Detail from Cycle of Life Sundial – Hands Supporting Baby

Paul Manship, Detail from Cycle of Life Sundial--Hands Supporting Baby, 1955, bronze on marble base, 136 344 34 in. (32.917.012.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.12

Artwork Details

Title
Detail from Cycle of Life Sundial – Hands Supporting Baby
Artist
Date
1955
Dimensions
136 344 34 in. (32.917.012.0 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Paul Manship
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze on marble base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Study — sculpture model
  • Figure male — child — full length
  • Object — furniture — clock
  • Figure male — full length
  • Figure male — nude
  • Allegory — life
  • Figure — fragment — hand
Object Number
1966.47.12

Artwork Description

Paul Manship created several versions of the Cycle of Life sundial. In the finished sculpture, a man, woman and child are surrounded by an armillary sphere, which shows the relationship of the stars to the earth. This model depicts the baby from the center of the sphere, supported by his mother’s and father’s hands. Manship believed that “Man, Woman, and Child make up the Cycle of Life.”

Works by this artist (483 items)

Paul Manship, Model of Flagpole Base, Alfred E. Smith Memorial, n.d., cast posthumously, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1971.15
Model of Flagpole Base, Alfred E. Smith Memorial
Daten.d., cast posthumously
bronze
On view
Paul Manship, Susanna (#1), 1948, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.1
Susanna (#1)
Date1948
marble
On view
Paul Manship, Flamingo (#2), 1932, gilded bronze on granite base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1965.16.29
Flamingo (#2)
Date1932
gilded bronze on granite base
On view
Paul Manship, Frog, 1952, bronze on lapis lazuli base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.31
Frog
Date1952
bronze on lapis lazuli base
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Paul Manship, Pygmalion and Galatea, 1963, gilded bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.85
Pygmalion and Galatea
Date1963
gilded bronze on marble base
Not on view
Paul Manship, Morning, 1938, bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1965.16.48
Morning
Date1938
bronze on marble base
Not on view
Paul Manship, Study for Wings for Victory, 1941, bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.19
Study for Wings for Victory
Date1941
bronze on marble base
Not on view
Paul Manship, Study for Venus Anadyomene, 1924, bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.57
Study for Venus Anadyomene
Date1924
bronze on marble base
On view