George Fullard ARA (1923–1973) Relief with Bronze Figure

George Fullard ARA (1923–1973) Relief with Bronze Figure.

George Fullard was a celebrated British post-war sculptor who trained at the Royal College of Art.Wounded in World War Two, Fullard’s expressionist bronzes, found object assemblages and drawings often feature wartime and maritime themes and feature in a number of national collections.

A mixed media piece, highly representative of George Fullard’s wider catalogue. Blending his specialities of bronze casting, sketches and found objects combined into a striking, contemporary work of art.

The found aspects of the piece are reminiscent of the works of Janet Nathan (1938-2020), with the abstracted bronze calling on the haunting figures of Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966). The influence of Giacometti is noticeable especially in Fullard’s masterworks such as ‘Mother & Child’ (1958). Fullard has also been linked to the ‘Geometry of Fear’ movement of the 1950s, which melded post war and atomic age anxieties into abstract and mixed media works.

The central semi-nude subject is cast in bronze, although it resembles a piece of discarded wood. The heavy steel backing hides a sketch, mirroring the bronze inside the purposely folded metal.

Although found, the wood is deliberately joined, providing a colourful backdrop for the head of the slender bronzed figure which stands on a piece of dentil cornicing.

Intended to hang on a wall, it casts an unusual shadow, elevating the piece outwardly. The bronze is bolted to the steel and assumed to be signed on the reverse with an initial and date. This work relates closely to ‘Stick Figure’ Bronze, edition of two. Though the bronze elements are identical, the other work is attached to a simple painted board.

The work was created in circa 1968. The piece was obtained from the estate of George Fullard ARA.