Bull Elk

Eli Harvey

1904; cast 1905 · Bronze · The American Wing

Harvey, who trained in Paris with the noted animal sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet, often drew inspiration from the denizens of zoos, especially those in the New York Zoological Park in the Bronx (popularly known as the Bronx Zoo). Here, a male elk, one of the largest North American mammals, appears alert. Harvey described its impressive antlers as being as “sharp as bayonets.” “Bull Elk” was cast in both monumental and statuette versions. The work serves as an emblem of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and examples are installed in and around fraternal lodges across the United States.

Artist

Eli Harvey

Date

1904; cast 1905

Medium

Bronze

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Morris K. Jesup Fund, 2011