Study for Standard IV (Fink Catalogue Raisonné 152)

Literature

B Robertson (1984) Elisabeth Frink Sculpture, Salisbury, another cast illustrated as no. 127 on page 164.

Jill Willder (ed) (1984) Elisabeth Frink Sculpture Catalogue Raisonné, Salisbury: Harpvale, another cast from the edition illustrated on page 165, cat. no. 128.

Annette Ratuzniak (ed) (2013) Elisabeth Frink: Catalogue Raisonné of Sculpture 1947-93, Farnham: Lund Humphries, another cast from the edition illustrated on page 97, cat. no. FCR152.

Notes

The present lot stems from Dame Elisabeth Frink’s exploration of the eagle’s physical form and movement – an interest that became central to her celebrated Standard series. These sculptures depict the bird perched on tall stands, frozen in distinct stages of motion. Through varying levels of abstraction, Frink conveyed the dynamic presence of the eagle, balancing stylisation with anatomical clarity in features such as claws, beaks, and wings. Each piece in the series reflects her ability to evoke both strength and vulnerability, hallmarks of her wider practice.

Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink was an English sculptor and printmaker whose work explored themes of power, aggression, and humanity. Born in Thurlow, Suffolk, she studied at the Guildford School of Art in 1949 and later at the Chelsea School of Art until 1953. Early in her career, she emerged as a leading figure among the Geometry of Fear sculptors – a post-war group known for raw, emotionally charged forms that reflected the existential anxieties of the time. Frink’s recurring subjects included men, horses, dogs, birds, and religious figures, often rendered with rugged surfaces and psychological intensity.

She represented Great Britain at the 1952 Venice Biennale, gaining international recognition, and continued to exhibit widely throughout her life. Frink’s long and distinguished career left a significant legacy in modern sculpture, with her works held in major public and private collections. She died in 1993 at the age of 62, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate for its emotional depth and formal innovation.

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy of Arts, Elisabeth Frink: Sculpture and Drawings 1952-1984, 8 February to 24th March 1985, cat. no. 41, another cast from the edition exhibited.

Provenance

Sotheby's, Johannesburg, 24 November 1986, lot 75, with the title 'Winged Victory'.