Since 31 in March 1948 stands on a brick base on the edge of the Kralingse forest a large white-gray bird; the pelican made by the then young Rotterdam sculptor Johan van Berkel. The statue is made of lime sandstone. The pelican sits with her wings spread on her nest with three young, who eagerly stretch their pointed beaks towards the breast of the mother bird, who, according to legend, feeds them with its own blood. The pelican that pecks itself in the breast to feed its young is a Christian theme. It is a biblical metaphor for Christ, who sacrificed himself for humanity. “For Catholic Kralingen a reminder of the revival of Roman Catholic worship in these regions, but also for all Kralingers a sign to reflect on the wonderful history of the village, which underwent only to rise again all the more prosperous". The whole is figurative, but somewhat stylized. The statue stands on the site where the Roman Catholic clandestine church stood from 1650 to 1802.
Johan van Berkel (1913-1956) was a Dutch sculptor. Between 1927 and 1937 he learned the art of sculpting in the evening classes at the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences in Rotterdam. He was a plasterer during the day and later taught at a technical school. He was described as a promising artist at the time, but he died at a relatively young age.
Bird pecking at its own breast, with wings spread and a nest of young
Materials
Stone
Dimensions
90 x 45 x 250 cm
year
1948
Client
Memorial Committee
Owner
Municipality of Rotterdam
About the artwork
Since 31 in March 1948 stands on a brick base on the edge of the Kralingse forest a large white-gray bird; the pelican made by the then young Rotterdam sculptor Johan van Berkel. The statue is made of lime sandstone. The pelican sits with her wings spread on her nest with three young, who eagerly stretch their pointed beaks towards the breast of the mother bird, who, according to legend, feeds them with its own blood. The pelican that pecks itself in the breast to feed its young is a Christian theme. It is a biblical metaphor for Christ, who sacrificed himself for humanity. “For Catholic Kralingen a reminder of the revival of Roman Catholic worship in these regions, but also for all Kralingers a sign to reflect on the wonderful history of the village, which underwent only to rise again all the more prosperous". The whole is figurative, but somewhat stylized. The statue stands on the site where the Roman Catholic clandestine church stood from 1650 to 1802.
Johan van Berkel (1913-1956) was a Dutch sculptor. Between 1927 and 1937 he learned the art of sculpting in the evening classes at the Academy of Visual Arts and Technical Sciences in Rotterdam. He was a plasterer during the day and later taught at a technical school. He was described as a promising artist at the time, but he died at a relatively young age.
Bird pecking at its own breast, with wings spread and a nest of young
Materials
Stone
Dimensions
90 x 45 x 250 cm
year
1948
Client
Memorial Committee
Owner
Municipality of Rotterdam
Johan van Berkel -
The pelican (1948)
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