Artwork by Robert Bateman,  Red-Tailed Hawk Head Study (Buteo Jamaicensis)

Robert Bateman
Red-Tailed Hawk Head Study (Buteo Jamaicensis)

bronze
incised “Copyright Robert Bateman”, “1982” and “2/250” on the reverse; stamped “Art Castings of Colorado” on the inside of the bronze
6 x 4.25 x 6.75 ins ( 15.2 x 10.8 x 17.1 cms ) ( overall (excluding base) )

Auction Estimate: $800.00$600.00 - $800.00

Price Realized $1,652.00
Sale date: April 14th 2020

Provenance:
Private Collection, Ontario
The original 1982 information card, which accompanies this artwork, provides the following details from Robert Bateman:

“Realistic painting is an attempt at illusion. Depth, form, space and air must be portrayed on a two-dimensional surface. The slightest change of angle creates a different apparent flat shape. In my painting, I want to convey an understanding of all of the planes in depth by manipulating the shapes and their tones.

No picture such as a drawing or photograph is really adequate for reference. Therefore, I often use these pictures to create three-dimensional reference or sculpture. This not only gives me a better understanding but allows me to see what happens in varying light conditions.

I have been doing these sculptures in clay or Plasticine for many years. After I am finished using them for a given painting, the sculptures tend to be neglected and damaged or destroyed. Many people have suggested that I put my sculptures in more permanent form such as bronze so that others could see and enjoy them.

I want to emphasize that these are reference pieces and not full sculpture with habitat. They show the parts that are useful to me and no more.

The red-tailed hawk head shows the qualities of that particular species. He is alert and handsome but with a certain mildness in his generally fierce bird-of-prey look. The flat planes and concave and convex surfaces are exaggerated to help me express them more clearly in the painting.”

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Robert Bateman
(1930)

Robert Bateman was born in Toronto on May 24, 1930. Bateman is an influential pioneer in his field of art paying homage to the world of nature. His respect for the environment is undeniable and his constant pursuit to help others see the importance of its fragility is extraordinary. Bateman says, "I can't conceive of anything being more varied and rich and handsome than the planet Earth. And its crowning beauty is the natural world. I like to soak it up, to understand it as well as I can and to absorb it. And then I like to put it together and express it in my paintings. This is the way I want to dedicate my work."