Portrait of an Old Man [Wood]

Portrait of an Old Man [Wood]

Figure sculpture, American--20th century

Portrait of an Old Man, 1929
Black walnut

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1994.003

Fredericks executed several woodcarving during the early part of his career. He made this sculpture, possibly during his senior year, at the Cleveland School of Art. Note the varying degrees of finish in the portrait. The head is worked in greater detail than the lower portions of the sculpture, and the bark of the tree is left intact around the bottom. A large crack down the back of the sculpture was filled with wood shims at the time of carving.

This is the only portrait Fredericks is known to have carved in wood. The subject is unknown.

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

1930

Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum

Sculpture

University Center (Mich.)

23.125" x 16" x 15.75"

Black Walnut

1994.003

Main Gallery

05/26/1994 gifted to MFSM

From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)

Memo dated April 22, 1992:

"RE: Portrait of an Old Man and Wood Sprite
I asked Molly about these and about any other wood carvings Fredericks did. For Portrait of an Old Man he made a model first from life. For Wood Sprite he carved it directly. In 1931 when he got to Cranbrook he carved 6 other small works directly from fence rails. He has since given away 5 of them and he has one."