Study for "Clowns"
Dublin Core
Title
Study for "Clowns"
Subject
Clowns in art
Drawing, American--20th century.
Figure drawing.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Drawing, American--20th century.
Figure drawing.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Description
Ink on heavy paper
22.5" x 14.25"
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.
22.5" x 14.25"
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.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Source
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series VIII, Cabinet 1 Drawer 5 Folder 1
Series VIII, Cabinet 1 Drawer 5 Folder 1
Date
n.d.
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.
Relation
VIII-01-05-01
Format
image/jpeg
Type
Ink drawing
Identifier
1998.001.VIII.113
Drawing Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Ink drawing
Physical Dimensions
22.5" x 14.25"
Files
Collection
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Study for "Clowns",” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed November 21, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/6464.