Object Details
- Artist
- Eli Harvey, born Ogden, OH 1860-died South San Gabriel, CA 1957
- Luce Center Label
- Wild animals were Eli Harvey’s favorite subject matter. The elephant that “sat” for African Elephant Scenting Danger had been driven mad from seeing his mate killed, and he became very agitated as Harvey modeled him. At one point, he nearly upset Harvey’s modeling stand by grabbing the leg and shaking it with his trunk. The finished sculpture shows the elephant in his most defensive stance. As he anticipates an attack, he raises his trunk to smell the air and tries to locate his enemy.
- Luce Object Quote
- “I must choose the most essential truth to be presented, which gives . . . the most agreeable lines as a work in sculpture. I chose for this elephant the attitude when scenting danger.” Eli Harvey, Eli Harvey: Quaker Sculptor from Ohio, 1966
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist
- after 1926
- Object number
- 1948.9.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Sculpture
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- 31 5/8 x 28 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (80.2 x 72.9 x 20.8 cm.)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- On View
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 48B
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Animal\elephant
- Record ID
- saam_1948.9.1
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk71ce13744-0f3d-434d-81c2-1830177f01fc
