Grenouille (1984)

Niki de Saint-Phalle

painted polyester

Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow

Classification:

Sculpture

Materials:

Polyester, Paint

Physical Object Description:

A small unrealistically multi-coloured painted model of a frog, made out of polyester, crouching on its backside. Its right foreleg is all purple and the left foreleg is green, maroon and yellow with blue stripes. Its face is mostly green with a horizontal red line for its mouth and a vertical blue line for a nose whilst its right eye is orange with a purple spot and the left eye is beige with a purple spot and and a further orange spot on top as a pupil. Stamped underneath: Niki, stamped in resin: Plastiques R Haligon D'art (foundry mark) and inscribed: 4/8

Dimensions:

13.3 x 12 x 12.1 cm

Credit:

Donated by Eric and Jean Cass through the Contemporary Art Society, 2012

Scheme:

Eric and Jean Cass Gift (2010 - 2012)

Ownership history:

Purchased from Gimpel Fils Ltd, London by Eric and Jean Cass, 11 November 1985; by whom gifted to the Contemporary Art Society, 2012; presented to Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow, 2012

Relationship:

Gimpel Fils Ltd, London Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow Eric and Jean Cass

Grenouille (1984), with a riot of patchwork colours, was one of many small, hand-size sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle in the Eric and Jean Cass Collection. It was purchased by them whilst the artist was still alive in 1985 and gifted to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow through the Contemporary Art Society in 2012. The frog figurine has a slightly sorrowful expression which makes it appear vulnerable.

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