Art

During his year abroad, Fredericks sculpted three portraits which he had cast in bronze. These include Nobuji Yoshida (Portrait of a Japanese), Portrait of a Young Man (Lloyd Westbrook), and Portrait of a German Philosopher. Additionally, Fredericks completed several drawings and sketches of people and places he encountered during this travels. A budding poet, Fredericks also wrote expressive poetry about his experiences abroad. Upon Fredericks's return to the United States, he obtained employment as a part-time instructor in sculpture at the Cleveland School of Art, while continuing to work on and exhibit his own artwork.

Front view of Nobuji Yoshida (Portrait of a Japanese).jpg

Fredericks's inspiration for this portrait bust came from a Japanese student with whom he had lived while studying abroad in Europe. Both Fredericks and the student, Nobuji Yoshida, were scholarship winners from their respective institutions. Fredericks having received the Herman N. Matzen Scholarship in Sculpture from the Cleveland Institute of Arts and Yoshida, the recipient of the Charles Cummings Travelling Scholarship from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where he was a student in the Department of Design.

Portrait of a Young Man (Lloyd Westerbrook).jpg

Westbrook was a friend of Fredericks at the Cleveland School of Art who traveled with him in Europe in 1930-31. Fredericks modeled the portrait in Europe and had it cast in Munich, Germany then shipped it back to the United States. Westbrook was an accomplished Cleveland painter who camped summers at Georgian Bay in Canada to paint landscapes in bright and cheerful colors.

After working with Carl Milles in Sweden during the summer of 1930, Milles sent Fredericks to Munich, Germany to gain additional experience studying at the Kunstakadamie and the Heimann Schule with Professor Hans Schwegerle. It is likely that Fredericks encountered this man during his studies. It is unknown if this individual sat for Fredericks as he modeled the sculpture, or if Fredericks worked on this piece from memory.

Drawing completed by Fredericks while traveling abroad in Morocco, 1931 of a man in a fez with a stick or cane.

Double-sided drawing completed by Fredericks while traveling abroad in Morocco, 1931.

Poem entitled "The Garden at LidingÃ¶" written at MillesgÃ¥rden by Marshall Fredericks in 1930.