Artwork of the month: A recently restored masterwork.

This sculpture is truly amazing now that it has been restored to its assumed original orientation.  We used to joke about how it looked as if he was swimming, or diving into water rather than praying.  Turns out the jokes had merit.

Francesco Mochi

Italian, 1580-1654

"St. Paul the Hermit"

, marble

Before restoration.

Andrea Bergondi

Italian, 1722-1789

"St. Paul the Hermit"

1772, marble

Recently restored, repositioned and reattributed.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts purchased "St. Paul The Hermit" in the year I was born, 1973. It was believed to be the work of Italian sculptor Francesco Mochi.

Eike Schmidt, curator of sculpture and design at the Minneapolis Institute of arts, discovered that the sculpture was by Andrea Bergondi in 1775.  The Midwest Art Conservation Center, restored the sculpture, removing cement that was added in the 1960s to create a solid base, cleaned it, and reorientated the sculpture so St. Paul would appear to be praying instead of diving.  

St. Paul is the first hermit saint of the Christian church, he retreated to Egypt to live a solitary life dedicated to the worship of God.

Regardless of its story, this sculpture is on exhibit on the third floor of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and is worthy of your time.  Go check it out, spend some time with this sculpture.  

Artwork of the month: Immaculate Madonna.

Every now and then a work of art truly inspires me, or I just like it so I talk about it.  

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has been purchasing a great deal of quality works as of late.  One of the best acquisitions lately has been the "Immaculate Madonna" by Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli.  It was purchased by Eike Schmidt, the curator of the decorative arts and sculpture.  Here is a link to a pretty cool video about the work.

This sculpture was recently acquired by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts at a bargain price, but that is another story.  I love this sculpture, it is truly a masterwork.  Now I can spend as much time as I want observing it, and someday if I feel inclined to do so, create my interpretation of it for today.

Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli

Italian, 1654-1735

"Immaculate Madonna"

1710, marble


Go to the MIA and take a look at this...
...it is worth the time.

Artwork of the month: True beauty.

This marble sculpture is one of the most beautiful marble busts that I have ever seen. It is on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  It will surprise you with its perfection if you let it.  

Jean Antoine Houdon

French, 1741-1828

"Portrait of Madame de Sérilly"

1780, marble

"Positively, my social philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words: liberty, equality and fraternity.  Let no one however say that I have borrowed my philosophy from the French Revolution.  I have not.  My philosophy has its roots in religion and not in political science.  I have derived them from the teachings of my master, the Buddha."
-B. R. Ambedkar (founder of the Indian constitution)

Artwork of the month: The Doryphoros

This month I want to write about one of my favorite sculptures at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Doryphoros.

This sculpture is a Roman copy of Greek bronze sculpture.  Wealthy Romans has marble copies of Greek sculptures as a status trend.  This copy of the Doryphoros is one of five left in the world and this one is almost completely intact.  And it is in little old Minneapolis, permanently.  

The proportions of the Doryphoros are in perfect balance between tension and relaxation.  

take a good look at the pose he stands in, looks familiar doesn't it.  We all stand this way, we rest while we stand.  

The man is not simply standing, he is in motion as the sculpture shows us the balance of his gait.

Roman 

The Doryphoros

120-50 B.C.E.

Marble

I have spent 11 years admiring this sculpture...

...I have yet to tire of its visage.