Owl (#1)

Copied Paul Manship, Angelo Colombo, Owl (#1), 1932, gilded bronze, 9 143 in. (23.47.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1965.16.10, © 1932, Paul Manship

Artwork Details

Title
Owl (#1)
Date
1932
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
9 143 in. (23.47.7 cm)
Copyright
© 1932, Paul Manship
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
gilded bronze
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — bird — owl
Object Number
1965.16.10

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.