Great Blue Heron
Bronze sculpture by William Turner

Great Blue Heron
Bronze sculpture by William Turner
A great blue heron stands on a tree branch. Two lily pads float at the base of the branch; one supports a small frog with throat sac inflated. Feathers on the bird's head and breast were attached separately after casting to give a more realistic look. Great Blue Heron was modeled in 1985 and cast in an edition of 25. The example at Brookgreen Gardens is the artist's proof.

William Turner
Born in Northhampton County, Virginia, on May 27, 1935
His first artistic efforts were carving duck decoys and wood likenesses of the animals he observed. By the age of fourteen he was building boats and assisting in his father's cabinetmaking business. A childhood interest in taxidermy was heightened when Robert Henry Rockwell came to live in his community. Rockwell, a noted taxidermist and sculptor, retired in 1942 as curator from the American Museum of Natural History. Informal study with Robert Rockwell helped provide a knowledge of animal anatomy and sparked his desire to make a record of the vanishing American wildlife in sculpture rather than in taxidermy.

All images on this sculpting site were photographed, scanned and edited by Rod and Gail Lang. Information is obtained from "Brookgreen Gardens Sculpture" Volumes I and II. To obtain a copy of these magnificent books which provide photos and detail on hundreds of sculptures in Brookgreen Gardens call the gardens at 843-237-4218.