Lovesick Clown, Acrobat Clown, Juggler Clown [Bronze]
Dublin Core
Title
Lovesick Clown, Acrobat Clown, Juggler Clown [Bronze]
Subject
Figure sculpture, American--20th century
Description
Installed in 1991, dedicated October 5, 1991, moved to sculpture garden in 2013
Although the first clowns date back to ancient times, the descendants of modern clowns were the traveling minstrels of the Middle Ages. They wore brightly colored costumes with ruffled collars and bells, plus they painted their faces or wore masks. They entertained by various means including poetry, music, juggling, acrobatics, and working with trained animals. Not until the sixteenth century when the commedia dell' arte began did pantomime become popular. Today it is a basic tool for clowns. From very early times the purpose of the clown was to display the gamut of human experience and emotion in an uninhibited manner, often by exaggeration.
Fredericks' clowns possess all the characteristic attributes. First, they wear the familiar costume: baggy pants, bells, and ruffled neck, wrist and ankle bands. Their faces are painted also. Their postures and gestures are very expressive. The Lovesick Clown shows exaggerated, unrepressed emotion. The mute Clown Musicians with their invisible instruments humorously remind us of the ability of clowns to entertain without sound. The Circus Train Clown has the circus train down below on the base and the Lovesick Clown has Cupid's arrow through his heart. The Acrobat Clown is depicted with a little dog balancing on the palms of his hands. The Juggler Clown has a ball balanced on the tip of his nose and the Clown Musicians play their imaginary instruments.
Fredericks sculpted the clowns using simple geometric shapes. The forms are highly stylized with clean lines and sharp edges making them visually appealing.
The bronze full-scale sculptures are located outside the Museum in the sculpture garden.
Although the first clowns date back to ancient times, the descendants of modern clowns were the traveling minstrels of the Middle Ages. They wore brightly colored costumes with ruffled collars and bells, plus they painted their faces or wore masks. They entertained by various means including poetry, music, juggling, acrobatics, and working with trained animals. Not until the sixteenth century when the commedia dell' arte began did pantomime become popular. Today it is a basic tool for clowns. From very early times the purpose of the clown was to display the gamut of human experience and emotion in an uninhibited manner, often by exaggeration.
Fredericks' clowns possess all the characteristic attributes. First, they wear the familiar costume: baggy pants, bells, and ruffled neck, wrist and ankle bands. Their faces are painted also. Their postures and gestures are very expressive. The Lovesick Clown shows exaggerated, unrepressed emotion. The mute Clown Musicians with their invisible instruments humorously remind us of the ability of clowns to entertain without sound. The Circus Train Clown has the circus train down below on the base and the Lovesick Clown has Cupid's arrow through his heart. The Acrobat Clown is depicted with a little dog balancing on the palms of his hands. The Juggler Clown has a ball balanced on the tip of his nose and the Clown Musicians play their imaginary instruments.
Fredericks sculpted the clowns using simple geometric shapes. The forms are highly stylized with clean lines and sharp edges making them visually appealing.
The bronze full-scale sculptures are located outside the Museum in the sculpture garden.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Date
1991
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Type
Sculpture
Coverage
University Center (Mich.)
Sculpture Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
Lovesick 116" x 70" x 28"
Acrobat 157" x 43" x 28"
Juggler 116" x 43" x 28"
Acrobat 157" x 43" x 28"
Juggler 116" x 43" x 28"
Materials
Bronze full-scale
Catalog Number
1991.148
Object Location
Sculpture Garden
Provenance
1991, August 8. and SVSU Board of Control.
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Lovesick Clown, Acrobat Clown, Juggler Clown [Bronze],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed April 25, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5187.