Fredda Brilliant
Fredda Brilliant | |
---|---|
Born | Łódź, Poland | 7 April 1903
Died | 25 May 1999 Carbondale, Illinois, United States | (aged 96)
Known for | sculpture, writing, acting, singing |
Spouse | Herbert Marshall |
Fredda Brilliant (7 April 1903[1] – 25 May 1999) was a Polish sculptor and actress, born in Łódź, Poland.
She worked in a variety of media and is recognized as an accomplished sculptor, writer, actor, singer and script writer. Throughout her career she traveled extensively working in England, USA, Australia, India, Poland and Russia. Brilliant sculpted some of the greatest figures of her time including
Brilliant's most famous work is a bronze
Early career
Fredda Brilliant emigrated with her Jewish parents to Melbourne, Australia in 1924. The Brilliant family were active in Yiddish theatrical and cultural circles. During her spell in Australia she honed her acting talent and also co-founded a Melbourne Theatre, in the late 1920s she moved to New York City to embark on a career as an actress. In 1935 whilst living in Moscow she married the esteemed film-writer and lecturer, Herbert Marshall; the two remained in Russia until 1937 when they moved to London.
In 1939 Fredda and Marshall completed the script for the socialist film, The Proud Valley[6] which was released the following year. As war broke out Fredda began touring with a theatrical company and most notably appeared in the production of Robert Ardrey's 1939 anti-fascist play Thunder Rock alongside Michael Redgrave and then Albert Finney at The Globe in London in 1947.[1]
During the 1950s and early 1960s Fredda and Herbert lived in
Sculptures
Fredda Brilliant received no formal artistic training and was primarily self-taught, her early work began as a child sculpting models of children in the courtyard outside her house. At first she gave them away but was later encouraged to sell them. Her early successes are quoted in an article in Faces magazine from 1978: 'We made enough money to buy two ice creams. One we shared, the other we gave away. So, at four years old, I learned how to be a creator, and how important it is to be a manager."[7]
She was keen to depict women in her work, once quoted as saying "I ask you: How many replicas of women are there about? Boadicea, the nurse Cavell. It is ridiculous, it is unfair." "It is important that women, too, are remembered. For all they do."
Other famous subjects sculpted by Brilliant included: Dr
Pablo Picasso invited Brilliant to visit him at his home and use him as a subject, but she refused when he pinched her bottom while her husband was present.[8][9]
Around fifty of her plaster models and maquettes are in the private possession of her niece. The maquette for the statue of Gandhi was shown on the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow in April 2013.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Reade, Patrick (22 June 1999). "Obituary: Fredda Brilliant". The Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ Brilliant, Fredda (1986). Biographies in Bronze. Shapolsky Publishing.
- ^ Brilliant, Fredda (1986). The Black Virgin. Veerendra Printers Publications Division.
- ISBN 8170620171.
- ^ Brilliant, Fredda (1986). Truth in Fiction: Short Stories. Veerendra Printers Publications Division.
- IMDb
- ^ Archard, Merry (1978). Faces. The Magazine about people. London: Marshal Cavendish Magazines Ltd. pp. 16–18.
- ^ Amit Roy (6 August 2006). "Eye On England: Brilliant idea". telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Cheltenham Town Hall 2". Antiques Roadshow. Series 35. Episode 19. 14 April 2013. BBC Television. Retrieved 16 April 2013.