160

The artist wrote, “Elephants adore mud. After a cool few minutes sploshing around, during which time they get themselves into impossible positions to ensure that the mud reached every square inch of their rather large bodies, they come out and have a good dust down in the sand—the elephant equivalent of talcum powder. This is an essential part of the daily routine of an elephant. Then, if there is a convenient tree nearby—and there usually is—the next thing to do is to have a really good scratch to complete the whole blissful experience; the ticks in the heavy folds of the jumbo’s skin don’t like this treatment very much but then that’s the whole idea. Around many a waterhole in Africa it is possible to see many trees have been worn as smooth as glass by this treatment.”

Elephant Heaven was released as a limited-edition print in 1975.

LITERATURE
David Shepherd, The Man Who Loves Giants (London: David & Charles, 1975), front cover, illustrated

Condition ReportSurface condition is very good. Several diagonal hairline cracks in sky. Four-inch diagonal hairline crack above center elephant’s ear. Several spots of faint/older inpainting in sky, near stretcher bar.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders; such statements are educated opinions and should not be regarded as facts. The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction has no responsibility for any errors or omissions.