William Turnbull Large Idol 1985 Courtesy the artists estate and YSP at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

William Turnbull: Large Idol

Art Outdoors /

William Turnbull: Large Idol

Large Idol forms part of a series of ‘Idol’ sculptures which William Turnbull made over the course of several years. These minimal works take the human form as a starting point which is then simplified and refined, whilst maintaining a sense of figuration. The titles of these streamlined forms make reference to them perhaps being thought of as ancient gods and being worshipped for their power and beauty.

Although less than two metres in height, Large Idol is a monumental work in terms of its form and presence, with both phallic and female fertility imagery.

You might also like

  1. Three nude male bronze figures with white painted faces, displayed outdoors.
    Art Outdoors

    Elisabeth Frink: Riace II, III and IV

    The Riace figures are inspired by the 5th century BCE bronze sculptures that were rediscovered in the sea off the coast of the Riace region of Italy in 1972.
  2. Art Outdoors

    William Turnbull: Large Horse

    Horses are a prevalent motif in art and are often used in monuments of war heroes to signify power and victory in battle. Turnbull reworked the figure of the horse throughout his career, reducing it to its basic form, as illustrated in Large Horse.
  3. Elisabeth Frink First Man 1964 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
    Art Outdoors

    Elisabeth Frink: First Man

    Elisabeth Frink was interested in human and animal forms. She used the male figure to explore the complexities of humanity, exposing both strength and vulnerability, as with First Man.
  4. Art Outdoors

    William Turnbull: Ancestral Figure

    The shape of Ancestral Figure could be a tablet containing written information, or a tombstone marking a grave. The surface is covered with shapes, lines, ridges and grooves. These might be facial features but they also resemble ancient symbols and languages.