Pleistocene Skeleton

Nancy Graves, Pleistocene Skeleton, 1970, steel, wax, marble dust and acrylic, 84 x 120 x 36 in. (213.4 x 304.8 x 91.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2005.8A-E, © 1970, The Nancy Graves Foundation

Artwork Details

Title: Pleistocene Skeleton
Artist: Nancy Graves
Date: 1970
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 84 x 120 x 36 in. (213.4 x 304.8 x 91.4 cm)
Copyright: © 1970, The Nancy Graves Foundation
Credit Line: Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description: steel, wax, marble dust and acrylic
Classifications: Sculpture
Subjects: Animal — other — skeleton
Animal — unspecified
History — prehistoric
Object Number: 2005.8A-E
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2005.8A-E

Artwork Description

Pleistocene Skeleton plays with perceptions of what is natural and what is invented. Nancy Graves sculpted this deceptively realistic skeleton based on the internal structure of a camel. Graves's abiding fascination with these unique creatures (and nature more generally) began during her childhood visits to the local natural history museum where her father worked. In later years, Graves traveled to North Africa where she observed and filmed herds of camels.