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We all are inspired by different things whether it is music, nature, or history. These things can cause us to make something based on that inspiration and lead to inspiring others. One prominent theme that inspires many artists is Greek Mythology. Mythology alone is so interesting and people adore learning about different kinds. Greek Mythology is in its own spectrum, especially in Art. So many famous pieces such as The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, Hebe sleeping by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, and Nymphs and Satyr by William-Adolphe Bouguereau are modeled after Greek Mythology.
William Wetmore Story participated in expanding on this theme through his art. American born (1819–1895), Story was a neoclassic sculptor who has sculptured a plethora of figures ranging from historical figures to mythological figures. Neoclassicism in the “arts is an aesthetic attitude based on the art of Greece and Rome in antiquity, which invokes harmony, clarity, restraint, universality, and idealism.” (Irwin) He was also a poet, art critic, and editor. Some of his sculptures connect to poems that he wrote. I took a trip to the High Museum of Art to visit their current show: Calder-Picasso. I am making a separate blog post all about it. They also have many famous pieces including such as Untitled by Anish Kapoor, The Cliffs of Pourville, Rough Sea (Falaises de Pourville, mer agitée) by Claude Monet, Minotaurus by Nandipha Mntambo, and House III by Roy Lichtenstein.
While doing being there, I was able to explore the permanent collection that they have on view. This post is highlighting Medea, a piece in their collection and currently on view at their museum. They have around five pieces by Story in their collection. One of the pieces named Cleopatra connects to Medea and it is placed right next to it. Medea revolves around the story of Medea who is in the Greek mythology story of Jason and the Argonaut. With many interpretations over several centuries, the High focuses on Euripides' fifth-century BCE play version of this story. The story is “Medea as a scorned woman who seeks revenge against her unfaithful husband and heartlessly murders their two children.” (High Museum) Euripides’ version opens amidst conflict where Jason has abandoned Medea, his wife, and their two children. He had plans to remarry Glauce, the daughter of Creon, as a way to advance his station. Jason abandoning them left Medea so hurt that she curses her children’s existence and her own existence. Medea goes back and forth with Jason throughout the whole play and at the end, Medea makes a huge decision. “Medea murders her children and flees the scene in a dragon-pulled chariot provided by her grandfather, the Sun-God. Jason is left cursing his lot; his hope of advancing his station by abandoning Medea and marrying Glauce, the conflict which opened the play, has been annihilated, and everything he values has been lost through the deaths that conclude the tragedy.” (Sparknotes) Unlike other versions, Euripides truly focuses on Medea, her feelings, her anxiety, and her approach to the situation. His piece is called Medea and not called Jason and the Argonaut. This play along with Story’s sculpture and poem, allows her story to truly be told.
The full title of this sculpture is Medea Meditating the Death of her Children and the piece captures Medea’s angst. It was known during the time that Story “consciously based his work on the theatrical interpretation of Medea by the great actress, Adelaide Ristori, whom he followed ‘like a shadow.’”(Gerdts) There is an excerpt from his poem “Cassandra” that accompanies this sculpture. The poem is from his poetry book published in 1897 titled Poems: Parchments and Portraits. This excerpt highlights Medea’s story along with her feelings. Some of the phrases are shown through the piece such as “her brow shut down”. (Gerdts)
“What does Medea there
In that dim chamber? See on her dark face
And serpent brow,rage,fury,love,despair!’
What seeks she? There her children are at play,
Laughing and talking. Not so fierce, I say--
You scare them with that passionate embrace!
Hark to those footsteps in the hall -- the loud
Clear voice of Jason heard above the crowd.
Why does she push them now, so stern, away,
And listening, glance around -- then, fixed, and mute,
Her brow shut down, her mouth irresolute,
Her thin hands twitching at her ribes, the while,
As with some fearful purpose, does she stand?
Why that triumphant glance-- that hideous smile,
That poniard hidden in her mantle there,
That through the dropping folds now darts its gleam?
Oh, Gods! oh, all ye Gods! hold back her hand.
Spare them! oh, spare them! oh, Medea, spare!
You will not, dare not! ah, that sharp shrill scream!
Ah! the red blood--’tis trickling down the floor!
Help! help! oh, hide me! Let me see no more!” (Story)
Her body language where she has a furrowed brow, arms folded, and a knife in her hand exudes the anger she felt. The detail on her snake bracelet connects her fate with another woman who Story presented in his piece Cleopatra. In that piece, Cleopatra is wearing a bracelet of a snake that foreshadows her death from the bite of a venomous snake. If you look closely, the bracelets are identical. Similar to Medea, Cleopatra also has a poem Story wrote connected to the piece and the label of the poem is Cleopatra. The poem mentions the snake bracelet and its importance.
It was really nice to see how these two were curated because it caused the audience to see the connection between bracelets and stories. Both women experienced tragedy but are presented in a strong, powerful way. The piece is so lovely in person especially since Medea is on a pedestal looking down at the audience. I love the idea of the audience looking up to a powerful woman who has such an interesting story. The details in person are also intriguing. The detail of fabric on her arms along with curly waves of her hair, allows a more realistic design to be shown. Her facial figures immaculately express her frustration with the situation she is in which causes the audience to question why. The label they have does not quite tell you the details of the piece. I wish they told the full story I learned about her through writing this post. It would change people’s perspectives on the piece.
The High Museum of Art is in Midtown, Atlanta and it is one of my favorite areas in Atlanta. They have a plethora of walkable eating spots that range from $ to $$$$. I mentioned in my other blog post about a restaurant called Thai There are places such a Cafe Intermezzo, Five Guys, Sugar Factory, and SweetHut. This time I tried a new spot with my friend Bora that he recommended. This spot is called Gyro Bros and all I have to say is wow. It was amazing. I ordered the classic chicken gyro and he got the classic gyro. My chicken gyro had lettuce, tomato, onion, chicken, and their homemade Tzatziki sauce on a toasted pita.
The classic gyro had shaved roast lamb and beef wrapped in a toasted pita with their homemade Tzatziki sauce, shredded lettuce, tomato, and onion. The gyros were packed with flavor as if a greek dance was happening on your tongue. Along with the fluffy pita that felt like a cloud, the gyros were lovely. The vegetables tasted fresh while the tzatziki was very light and flavorful. The meat was very well seasoned and with all of these combined, it was one of the best gyros I have had in the city. Similar to my last blog post, I had my friend Bora give his review of the place through a voice message. Click here to listen: Bora's Review!
The spot was nice and in a walkable area. It is actually one of my favorite areas to walk in Atlanta. The strip it is located on has other places like the art store Blick’s and Sweethut, a bakery place that serves amazing bubble tea. It is also around a 10-15 minute walk from the High Museum of Art which is right next to the Alliance Theatre. If you ever want to go on an art museum date in Atlanta, the High Museum and its surrounding area is a good place to go! I always recommend walking around Midtown. I absolutely adore it. I would recommend seeing this piece in person and visiting the Gyro spot. Seeing the powerful Medea in person is an experience!
Sources:
Irwin, D. (n.d.). Neoclassical art. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/Neoclassicism.
Medea. metmuseum.org. (n.d.). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12651.
Tolles, T. (2004, October). American Neoclassical Sculptors Abroad. metmuseum.org. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ambl/hd_ambl.htm.
William Wetmore Story Bio. William Wetmore Story Poems > my poetic side. (n.d.). https://mypoeticside.com/poets/william-wetmore-story-poems.
Bosco, R. (2001). William Wetmore Story. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&u=cull73600&id=GALE%7CH1200010008&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon.
Medea. High Museum of Art. (n.d.). https://high.org/collections/medea/.
Cleopatra. High Museum of Art. (n.d.). https://high.org/collections/cleopatra/.
Gerdts, W. H. (1972). William Wetmore Story. American Art Journal, 4(2), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.2307/1593930
DiFederico, F. R., & Markus, J. (1973). The influence of Robert Browning on the art of William Wetmore Story. Browning Institute Studies, 1, 63–85. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0092472500000080
Story, W. W. (1891). Cassandra. In Poems: Parchments and Portraits (Vol. 1, pp. 139–142). essay, Mifflin Houghton.
SparkNotes. (n.d.). Medea: Comprehensive Summary. SparkNotes. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/medea/summary/.
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