Ugly Devil

1925

John Taylor Arms

Associated Names
John Taylor Arms

Artist, American, 1887 - 1953

Frederick T. Reynolds

Printer, American, 1882 - 1945

The sculpture features a bust of a creature with a human-like face, showing a wide grin with pronounced cheekbones, sunken eyes, and textured skin. The creature's head appears to be covered in textured ridges resembling tightly braided hair. The sculpture is depicted in monochromatic tones, primarily in shades of gray, possibly made from stone or metal with a rough surface finish. The entity gazes slightly downwards, giving an impression of an ancient being frozen in time. The detailed craftsmanship showcases grooves and textures along the face and shoulders.

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Leithauser, Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1999; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Bibliography

1982

  • Fletcher, William Dolan. John Taylor Arms, A Man for All Time: The Artist and His Work. New Haven, CT: The Sign of the Arrow, 1982, pp. 106-107, no. 148.

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: "Ugly Devil"; lower right in plate: "Eyes"; lower right in graphite: John Taylor Arms - 1924; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: Gargoyle Studies / [not deciphered]INN; lower left verso in graphite by unknown hand: P792 [circled] / 73-056-OWX

Watermarks

o2-x

Wikidata ID

Q77009771

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