Animal Kingdoms - Reptile, [Plaster]

Animal Kingdoms - Reptile, [Plaster]

Animal sculpture--20th century

Animal Kingdoms

Fish Kingdom, 1987
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.011


Mammal Kingdom (seal), 1987
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.012


Reptile Kingdom (crocodile), 1987
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.013



Bird Kingdom (swan), 1987
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.014

Fredericks originally created nine inch high versions of these four forms in 1938-39 and they were cast in bronze. In 1987, he enlarged them to this size in plaster for the Main Exhibit Gallery. Each of the four animal kingdoms: fish, mammal, reptile, and bird display the streamlined and simplified characteristics of the Art Deco style.

In a videotaped interview in 1987, Fredericks stated:

"I think any artist who forgets nature is losing a great deal of his life. Nature is so full, so manifold. The animal and bird kingdoms, the plant kingdoms, and all those kingdoms are such a wonderful expression of nature, we must appreciate them. There is something so touching about these non-human creatures. I find it very interesting to combine the two. "

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

1987

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

University Center (Mich.)

55" x 44.75" x 50"

Plaster full-scale

1991.013

Main Exhibit Gallery

06/25/1987 gifted to MFSM

From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992) Memo dated September 25, 1991 "RE: Four Animal Kingdoms While I was doing the inventory at the studio Molly told me that the sculpture titled Meditation from 1937 was a study for the Four Animal Kingdoms. It is a female figure in the same position but she is not holding anything in her lap."