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Moses(3/3)

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Moses (Smith)
ArtistTony Smith
Year1968(1998)(1968(1998))
Dimensions350 cm × 220 cm × 460 cm (138 in × 88 in × 180 in)
LocationToledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio
Coordinates41°39′31.94″N83°33′33.49″W/ 41.6588722°N 83.5593028°W/41.6588722; -83.5593028
OwnerToledo Museum of Art

Moses(3/3) is a public sculpture of the prophetMosesbyUnited StatesartistTony Smith.It is on the grounds of theToledo Museum of ArtinToledo,Ohio.The title of the work was inspired from readings of his own work that links this sculpture to the work ofMichelangeloandRembrandt.[1]

Description

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Moses Showing the Tablets of the Law to the People(1659) by Rembrandt.

Mosesis a black, painted steel sculpture that stands 11'6 "(h) x 15' (w) x 7'4" (d). Like many of Tony Smith's large sculptures,Moseswas developed with geometric and mathematical principles in mind. It is a monumental sculpture with tilting faces and extending branches. In fact, the sculpture appears different when viewed from every vantage point. Similar to other sculptures by Smith, Moses mixes anthropomorphism (human scale and characteristics) with geometry.[2]Smith named the sculpture for the Hebrew prophet Moses, as depicted in the painting by Rembrandt. The two vertical arms of the sculpture evoke the religious scene of Moses holding the tablet of the Ten Commandments in his outstretched arms.[3]

Historical information

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Moseswas conceptually developed by Tony Smith in 1969 and was fabricated in 1998. This is the third in an edition of three, with oneartist's proof.The versions of this sculpture have been fabricated;Moses(1/3)belongs toPrinceton University,andMoses(2/3)belongs to the city ofSeattleand is displayed at theSeattle City Center.[3][4]

Moseswas included in an exhibit by theMuseum of Modern Artin New York as part of a show entitled "Tony Smith: Architect, Painter, Sculptor."[3]

Acquisition

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Moseswas accessioned by the Toledo Museum of Art in 2009.[3]It was a gift of Marshall Fields, by exchange.[3]It is currently on display in the Georgia and David K. Welles Sculpture Garden.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Robert Storr (1998).Tony Smith architect, painter, sculptor; [Ausstellung] Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2.7.1998 - 22.9.1998.essays by John Keenen. New York: Abrams. pp. 131–132.ISBN0-87070-072-3.
  2. ^"NGA Classroom".Retrieved18 February2013.
  3. ^abcde"Toledo Museum of Art".Retrieved18 February2013.
  4. ^Smith, Kiki; Smith, Seton (2007).Not an object, not a monument: the complete large-scale sculpture of Tony Smith(1st ed.). Göttingen: Steidl. pp. 64–65, 92.ISBN978-3-86521-313-6.
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