Ralph Brown

Swimming

1959–60

© Ralph Brown

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Ralph Brown 1928–2013
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Object: 830 x 790 x 470 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1960
Reference
T00374

Catalogue entry

T00374 SWIMMING 1959–60
 
Not inscribed.
Bronze, 23 3/4×31×12 1/2 (60×79×32), on a bronze rod, 7 (18), and a Hoptonwood stone base, 2×19 1/4×13 1/4 (5×49×34).
Purchased from the artist (Grant-in-Aid) 1960.
Exh: Arts Council, Contemporary British Sculpture, open-air tour, April–October 1960 (4).
Lit: Art Gallery of New South Wales: Acquisitions 1961, 1962, p.29.
Repr: Motif, VIII, winter 1961, p.59; Ambassador, XI, 1962, p.54.

Cast by the lost-wax method, the first cast of an edition of nine; the second is in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. The artist wrote (14 July 1960): ‘The “Swimmers” is a recent and for me important work ... it carries my development away from realism, while my preoccupation remains with the human figure and movement’, and added (7 November 1960): ‘It was not prompted by any particular incident, but is one of a number of sculptures I have been making on this theme, none of which however I would regard especially as studies, with the exception of one or two reliefs which for me take the place of sketches or drawings.’

Versions of this theme include a fountain group 84 inches high for Hatfield New Town made in 1960–1.

Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, I

Explore

You might like

Left Right
Kenneth Armitage, ‘Diarchy’ 1957

Kenneth Armitage Diarchy

1957
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Three Part Object’ 1960

Henry Moore OM, CH Three Part Object

1960
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Three Piece Reclining Figure No.2: Bridge Prop’ 1963, cast date unknown

Henry Moore OM, CH Three Piece Reclining Figure No.2: Bridge Prop

1963, cast date unknown
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Reclining Figure: Bunched’ 1961, cast 1961–2

Henry Moore OM, CH Reclining Figure: Bunched

1961, cast 1961–2
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Two Piece Sculpture No.7: Pipe’ 1966, cast date unknown

Henry Moore OM, CH Two Piece Sculpture No.7: Pipe

1966, cast date unknown
Kenneth Armitage, ‘People in the Wind’ 1950

Kenneth Armitage People in the Wind

1950
Kenneth Armitage, ‘Sibyl III’ 1961

Kenneth Armitage Sibyl III

1961
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Moon Head’ 1964, cast c.1964–6

Henry Moore OM, CH Moon Head

1964, cast c.1964–6
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Woman’ 1957–8, cast date unknown

Henry Moore OM, CH Woman

1957–8, cast date unknown
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Helmet Head and Shoulders’ 1952, cast date unknown

Henry Moore OM, CH Helmet Head and Shoulders

1952, cast date unknown
On display at Tate St Ives part of Modern Art and St Ives
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Falling Warrior’ 1956–7, cast c.1957–60

Henry Moore OM, CH Falling Warrior

1956–7, cast c.1957–60
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Relief No.1’ 1959

Henry Moore OM, CH Relief No.1

1959
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Working Model for Three Piece No.3: Vertebrae’ 1968, cast c.1968

Henry Moore OM, CH Working Model for Three Piece No.3: Vertebrae

1968, cast c.1968
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights
Henry Moore OM, CH, ‘Three Piece Reclining Figure No.1’ 1961–2, cast date unknown

Henry Moore OM, CH Three Piece Reclining Figure No.1

1961–2, cast date unknown
Victor Newsome, ‘Two Craters (Two Blind Holes)’ 1963

Victor Newsome Two Craters (Two Blind Holes)

1963