King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden poses with "The Thinker" at the Royal Palace in Stockholm

Dublin Core

Title

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden poses with "The Thinker" at the Royal Palace in Stockholm

Subject

Animal sculpture--20th century.
Apes in art
Bronze sculpture, American--20th century.
Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, 1946-
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

Description

Fredericks created this sculpture at the request of George Gough Booth, the founder of Cranbrook Educational Community, who wanted a “Thinker” for the steps of the Cranbrook Art Museum similar to Auguste Rodin’s renowned Thinker, a cast of which is on the steps of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Fredericks’ replacement of Rodin’s heroic male nude with a bemused chimpanzee stroking his chin is a thought provoking variation on the earlier statue. Fredericks' choice of a chimpanzee reveals his fondness for primates.

Fredericks indicated that he “tried different human figures for about a month, but couldn’t come up with the right Thinker. Mr. Booth came to my studio and saw this chimpanzee I was carving in my spare time and he said, ‘This is my Thinker. He’s probably thinking far more interesting thoughts than we are.’”

Source

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series V, Box 22 Folder 15

Date

n.d.

Rights

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

Relation

V-22-15

Format

image/jpeg

Type

Image

Coverage

Stockholm (Sweden)

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Color print

Physical Dimensions

6" x 8.5"

Files

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden poses with The Thinker at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.jpg

Citation

“King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden poses with "The Thinker" at the Royal Palace in Stockholm,” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed March 29, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/3515.