1983
Bronze
h38.1cm
Artist’s Copy, Edition of 8

Provenance:
The Artist,
Private collection, gifted to the vendor directly by Frink

Literature:
Elisabeth Frink Sculpture, Peter Schaffer for Harpvale Books, 1984, pp. 279-280, illustration no. 281.

Born in Thurlow, Suffolk, Dame Elisabeth Frink (1930-1993) trained at Guildford School of Art (1947-49), and at Chelsea School of Art (1949-1952) under Bernard Meadows and Willi Soukop. These studies, combined with visits to Paris that acquainted her with Giacometti and the works of Rodin, culminated in Frink’s first major exhibition at the Beaux Art Gallery in 1952 (from which the Tate Gallery purchased her work Bird), the same year in which she exhibited with the London Group. Aiming for a rough texture in her bronzes, Frink, like Henry Moore, modelled, cast in plaster, and then carved the plaster. Focusing on men, dogs, horses, and birds as her primary subject matter, she rarely worked with the female form. In her catalogue raisonne, Frink states, “I have focused on the male because to me his is a subtle combination of sensuality and strength with vulnerability.” Her figures are characterized by simplicity, aloofness, and dignity, while her animal depictions capture unique characteristics.

The last example from the present edition to appear at auction sold in 2010 for £51,650.

Messums Estimate: £40,000 – £60,000
Price inclusive of ARR