About this artwork
This figure was inspired by photographs of Léo Valentin, a celebrated French ‘dare-devil’ known as ‘the birdman’. He attempted to fly at an air show in Liverpool in 1956, launching from a plane with wooden wings attached to his arms, but fell to his death. Tiny wings can be seen on the back of this figure. The combination of heroism and failure are recurring themes in Frink’s work. She gave the original plaster version of this sculpture to a friend in 1960 and all trace of it was lost for 50 years. This is one of four bronzes cast posthumously by the artist’s Estate.
Published November 2021
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artist:Elisabeth Frink (1930 - 1993) English
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title:Birdman
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date created:About 1960
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materials:Bronze
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measurements:186.00 x 96.50 x 80.00 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Provided to the National Galleries of Scotland in accordance with the wishes of the artist’s late son, Lyn Jammet, 2020
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accession number:GMA 5676
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gallery:
Elisabeth Frink
Elisabeth Frink
Elisabeth Frink’s artistic career was launched at the age of twenty-two with her first solo exhibition. Linked with the group of post-war British sculptors that included Reg Butler and Eduardo Paolozzi, she is perhaps best known for her expressionistic animal figures and popular public sculpture...