Falcon

Bessie Stough Callender, Falcon, 1937, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harold Callender, 1960.8.2
Copied Bessie Stough Callender, Falcon, 1937, marble, 14 1⁄8 x 5 7⁄8 x 6 5⁄8 in. (35.8 x 15.0 x 18.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harold Callender, 1960.8.2

Artwork Details

Title
Falcon
Artist
Date
1937
Location
Dimensions
14 1⁄8 x 5 7⁄8 x 6 5⁄8 in. (35.8 x 15.0 x 18.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Harold Callender
Mediums
Mediums Description
marble
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — bird — falcon
Object Number
1960.8.2
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1960.8.2

Artwork Description

In Falcon the smooth, sloping lines of the bird contrast with the rough bulk of the base, which retains the original texture of the marble. The falcon’s expression is alert and inquisitive. Something seems to have caught his eye, and he is poised to attack or flee. His form is tense and energetic like his face, and his body rises out of the stone as if he may take flight at any moment. The sculpture conveys the animal’s primal instinct at its peak.