Pelican

Copied Paul Manship, Angelo Colombo, Pelican, 1932, gilded bronze on lapis lazuli base, 9 5⁄8 x 9 1⁄4 x 3 7⁄8 in. (24.4 x 23.5 x 9.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1965.16.7

Artwork Details

Title
Pelican
Artists
Founder
Priessmann Bauer & Co.
Date
1932
Location
Dimensions
9 5⁄8 x 9 1⁄4 x 3 7⁄8 in. (24.4 x 23.5 x 9.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
gilded bronze on lapis lazuli base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — bird — pelican
Object Number
1965.16.7
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1965.16.7

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.