Thinker, The, Small-Scale, [Plaster]
Dublin Core
Title
Thinker, The, Small-Scale, [Plaster]
Subject
Animal sculpture--20th century
Description
Plaster model for the Thinker in full-scale. There is a shellac coating on the surface and some major areas patched with new plaster.
The chimpanzee sits with arms crossed in front of him. His hands are upon his shoulders. His legs are also crossed as he stares ahead. The knees have the classic tear drop shape characteristic of many of Marshall's animals.
"In front of both the Detroit Institute of Arts and Cleveland Museum of Art broods Auguste Rodin's bronze Thinker. When the Cranbrook Art Museum was completed, George Booth said to Fredericks, "Marshall, I want you to do a Thinker to put on the steps of the Cranbrook museum. Every museum has a Thinker in front. We should have one ." To do Rodin's sculpture over again in any form was unthinkable. With the shrewd humor he sometimes exhibited, Fredericks chose a block of black granite and carved the massive, self-enclosed ape that now site before the Cranbrook Art Museum. When it was shown to him, Booth looked at it for a moment disconcerted; then recognizing the idea and the sculpture's quality, he said, "Well, it may be that he is thinking far more interesting thoughts than we are. I'll take it.""
Fredericks, Suzanne P. "Marshall M. Fredericks, Sculptor", Saginaw Valley State University, 2003. p.2
One of Fredericks Thinkers sits just outside of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.
This work is signed "Marshall M. F" The rest of the name fades out and is unreadable except for the "D" in Fredericks.
The chimpanzee sits with arms crossed in front of him. His hands are upon his shoulders. His legs are also crossed as he stares ahead. The knees have the classic tear drop shape characteristic of many of Marshall's animals.
"In front of both the Detroit Institute of Arts and Cleveland Museum of Art broods Auguste Rodin's bronze Thinker. When the Cranbrook Art Museum was completed, George Booth said to Fredericks, "Marshall, I want you to do a Thinker to put on the steps of the Cranbrook museum. Every museum has a Thinker in front. We should have one ." To do Rodin's sculpture over again in any form was unthinkable. With the shrewd humor he sometimes exhibited, Fredericks chose a block of black granite and carved the massive, self-enclosed ape that now site before the Cranbrook Art Museum. When it was shown to him, Booth looked at it for a moment disconcerted; then recognizing the idea and the sculpture's quality, he said, "Well, it may be that he is thinking far more interesting thoughts than we are. I'll take it.""
Fredericks, Suzanne P. "Marshall M. Fredericks, Sculptor", Saginaw Valley State University, 2003. p.2
One of Fredericks Thinkers sits just outside of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.
This work is signed "Marshall M. F" The rest of the name fades out and is unreadable except for the "D" in Fredericks.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Date
1938
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Type
Sculpture
Coverage
University Center (Mich.)
Sculpture Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
25" x 16" x 15"
Materials
Plaster
Catalog Number
1999.042
Object Location
Storage Room B - B4
Provenance
10/25/1999 gifted to MFSM
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Thinker, The, Small-Scale, [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed April 27, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5316.