Head of Youth [Plaster]

Dublin Core

Title

Head of Youth [Plaster]

Subject

Figure sculpture, American--20th century

Description

Head of the Youth, from Youth in the Hands of God, 1956
Plaster original

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.047

This is the only surviving portion of the full-scale plaster original model for Youth in the Hands of God, a sixteen-foot tall aluminum cast, made in Norway, commissioned for the facade of the Dallas Public Library, Dallas, Texas.

This fragment is less well preserved than many of the original plasters in the Museum. Note the stained discoloration across the head in general. The restorations around the eyes, ears, and lips were reworked about 1987 to regain the original appearance. The complete aluminum cast of the Youth in the Hands of God was relocated from Dallas Public Library to this Museum in 1993 and is installed on the facade of the Arbury Fine Arts Center.

Creator

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

Date

1956

Rights

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

Identifier

Sculpture

Coverage

University Center (Mich.)

Sculpture Item Type Metadata

Physical Dimensions

17.75" x 10" x 15"

Materials

Plaster full-scale

Catalog Number

1991.047

Object Location

Main Exhibit Gallery

Provenance

03/22/1989 gifted to MFSM

Notes

Notes:

Finished piece for Dallas Public Library weighed 880 pounds of cast aluminum and was 20 feet in height. The cost was $100,000 with $35,000 to Mr. Fredericks and $65,000 cost for materials and installation.


Molly Barth copy:
On this pedestal, there is a head of a portrait of a young boy. This is all that Fredericks has left of a piece that is titled Youth in the Hands of God. It was made for the Dallas, Texas library. The sculpture was cast in aluminum and is 20 feet high. It is a relief that was designed to hang right on the granite facade of the library. It was dedicated in 1960. Recently, the library had grown so much they sold the building and built a new library. I don't think they realized that the relief could be removed, but they ended up selling the building and the relief. Fredericks is hoping that someday it will be donated to the gallery, but, as far as I know, it's vacant. As you know, Texas went through a recession when so many people went bankrupt. Hopefully, that Youth in the Hands of God relief will end up being here at the gallery. I should mention that Youth in the Hands of God was also cast in Norway and brought over by boat, but the rest of the plaster model was destroyed. All that is left is the head of the youth.

Files

1991.047.jpg

Citation

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Head of Youth [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed November 20, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5096.