Carved in a fine-textured Portuguese granite this sculpture portrays the suffering of Christ. All of Rae’s earliest sculptures were inspired by religious themes. This emotive work is carved to a smooth finish which adds to serenity of the sad curled figure.
To see a short video of Ronald Rae talking about this sculpture click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksCIPWPB0nI
To see a video of Man of Sorrows being installed at its new home in Warwickshire click on the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pPMQhO3h_U
Rae was motivated to carve this sculpture having seen wild boars in the forests of Germany. Wild boars also roamed Britain in ancient times and are found incised on Pictish stones. The image of the Wild Boar in Celtic art symbolised hospitality and feasting as well as hunting. Rae worked on the sculpture during a very wet winter, literally slipping and sliding in the mud whilst carving it – and grunting – just like a wild boar! Perhaps this is why the sculpture is the very essence of a wild boar.
It is a well-loved sculpture – when on exhibition at Newby Hall, children left apple cores at its snout.
Granite: 6x6x3ft 4.00 tons. Location: Isle of Eriska, Argyll. On Hire
Horse
Carved in Dalbeattie silver grey granite this sculpture celebrates the arabesque forms of the horse. A natural band of quartz on one side of the stone adds to its beauty. Highly finished, it took over a year to carve.
Now on the romantic Isle of Eriska, the Horse is sited on the perimeter of the hotel’s nine hole golfcourse with the stunning backdrop of Loch Linnhe and the Morvern mountains.
To see a short video about this sculpture go to Latest News on Video at the right hand column of this page and click on Ronald Rae with his sculptures on the Isle of Eriska.
This sculpture was inspired by Rae’s interest in the cosmos and a visit to the Antipodes prior to starting the work. His affinity with Aboriginal art can be seen by the linear markings on the stone.
This endearing little elephant is one of eight elephant sculptures by Ronald Rae – a subject dear to his heart. Each elephant is totally different in size and mood – this little elephant is rolling in the mud, as they like to do.
Observe the lichen attached to the granite, returning the stone to Nature.
The stone for this sculpture was once part of the Fallen Christ stone. It broke off at a natural fissure forming a tondo shape which was perfect for this small relief sculpture of a figure kneeling in supplication being healed by Christ who is in ascendency.
This sculpture reveals three sheep within the stone. On one side the head of a ram with a curled horn. On the other side the ewe looks back at her lamb which is depicted only by its body and legs nuzzling into her side – rugged granite and sheep the epitome of Scotland.
The sculpture was inspired by the poem by Robert Burns “Ca’ the Yowes” and this was its working title.
Bear also features in writer and poet Jenny Melmoth’s latest book called Of Dogs and Cats and Bear.
To find out about this fascinating memoir by someone who loves animals visit www.jenny-melmoth.com
Carved in Kemnay granite, over 470 million years old, this animated brown bear which once roamed the United Kingdom until the 10th century sniffs the air. Rae’s concern for endangered species often features in his animal sculptures.
Granite: 6x13x5ft 11.00 tons Location: Millbrook, USA. Sold
Elephant and Calf
Carved in Kemnay granite this sculpture was inspired by the cave art at Lascaux in France where the images of animals were carved on to the natural rock surfaces.
Rae’s sculpture represents an elephant family – on one side the tusked patriarch with the baby elephant, on the other side the gentle matriarch.
The sculpture was purchased from the Regent’s Park Exhibtion, carefully packed in a container and shipped out to the USA.
Hand-carved granite sculptures in public and private collections
