John Flannagan often spoke of the sympathy he saw between the materials he worked with and the subjects that he carved. He tried to find in each stone the suggestion of a form hidden within it. In Donkey the stubbornness of the granite (one of the most difficult stones to carve) matches the personality of the animal. The donkey feels like such a part of the stone that he almost appears fossilized. The subtle outlines that define his body also make the sculpture seem worn and ancient.
“Embrace all living forms … the stately dignity of the Mountain Goat, the ironic pensiveness of the apparently thoughtful Monkey, and (in his greater moments) the timeless yet rebellious patience of the Ass.” John Flannagan, The Sculpture of John Flannagan, 1941
- Title
-
Donkey
- Artist
- Date
- ca. 1930-1931
- Location
- Dimensions
- 7 1⁄2 x 9 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄4 in. (19.0 x 23.5 x 10.7 cm.)
- Credit Line
-
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Museum purchase
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- granite
- Classifications
- Keywords
-
- Animal – donkey
- Object Number
-
1973.165
- Palette
- Linked Open Data
- Linked Open Data URI
