Sir Winston Churchill [Plaster]

Sir Winston Churchill [Plaster]

Figure sculpture, American--20th century

Sir Winston Churchill Memorial, 1967
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.033

This portrait head of Sir Winston Churchill, (1874-1965) is four times the size of life in heroic-scale. Compared with the idealized style of most of Fredericks' works, his portrait style is more realistic though simplified. Churchill's serious expression and the strong modeling give this portrait a stately permanence appropriate for a memorial. It was commissioned by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Churchill is quoted on its pedestal, "If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future."

Both this sculpture and the portrait head of John F. Kennedy memorial reveal how plaster models are constructed. Visible through the openings in the back are the reinforcing pipes and fabric which holds the plaster model together. Like these, all the plaster models in the Main Exhibit Gallery are hollow and some break down into smaller sections.

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

1967

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

Sculpture

University Center (Mich.)

35" x 26" x 28"

Plaster full-scale

1991.033

Main Exhibit Gallery

1989 March, 22 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control

From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated October 23, 1991:

"RE: Sir Winston Churchill
While I was working in the studio I found a photograph of the cast in Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island. The plaque on the pedestal reads as follows:

Sir Winston Churchill
1875-1965
"If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future."
Tenth June 1940"

Thematic tour copy:
The Sir Winston Churchill Memorial was commissioned by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, KG, OM, CH, FRS (November 30, 1874 - January 24, 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II; his dates of service are May, 1940 to April, 1955. At various times an author, soldier, journalist, legislator and painter, Churchill is generally regarded as one of the most important leaders in British history and a strong ally to the USA.
Facts:
-style is similar to John F. Kennedy portrait; they were both sculpted about the same time
-rough texture surface style (like JFK's)
-notice Ancient Greek style of hollowed eyes: creates a shadow and looks like pupils of eyes (like JFK's)


Molly Barth copy:
Then we have three very large heads. Starting with the one on the right, Sir Winston Churchill. This was cast in bronze for Freeport, Grand Bahamas.