Although the
sculptor Hiram Powers (1805-73) enjoyed considerable success with his
portraits and more
allegorical works, he is now almost entirely remembered for one of nineteenth-century America's most hotly-debated sculptures:
The Greek Slave. Powers was a
little vague about the inspiration for the statue--longstanding dream, or response to the Greek War of Independence (see
previously)? Understood
at the time as a major leap forward in establishing America as a serious force in the art world, the statue was an international hit (appearing at the
Great Exhibition of 1851), and was
endlessly copied and
daguerrotyped. (Some of the copies turn the statue into a much more ambiguous
bust, or
hark back to one of its major influences, the
Venus de Milo.) However, some observers, including
Elizabeth Barrett Browning and,
much more pointedly, the illustrator and caricaturist
John Tenniel, suggested that an American sculptor might wish to think about
other slaves.
posted by thomas j wise
on Aug 17, 2011 -
9 comments
Apocalyptic image gallery A scholarly site with a large collection of images illustrating the Revelation of St. John, with emphasis on medieval painting, carving, and sculpture. Felix Just, S. J. has compiled a more diverse
collection that includes an extensive set of contemporary images. As a lover of all things nineteenth-century, I'm rather partial to
Francis Danby (I just saw
The Deluge at the Tate) and
John Martin.
posted by thomas j wise
on Aug 13, 2003 -
7 comments
