The Lost Pleiad Possibly 1874

This marble sculpture, conceived by Randolph Rogers, embodies the myth of the lost Pleiad, Merope. Her gesture, a hand shielding her eyes, speaks of both celestial vision and profound loss. In ancient Greek myth, the Pleiades were seven sisters, daughters of Atlas, transformed into a constellation. Merope’s light dimmed, a poignant symbol of her shame for marrying a mortal man. Her story echoes across time, appearing in Renaissance paintings, in which figures cover their faces to express grief. This gesture, a hand raised to the brow, is repeated in other artworks across time, from ancient depictions of mourning to modern expressions of despair. Perhaps it taps into our collective memory of loss, resonating on a subconscious level. Here, it serves as a powerful reminder of our longing for what is lost, and our search for understanding in the face of mystery. The myth of Merope and her dimmed light resurfaces throughout history, a testament to the enduring power of symbols and the cyclical nature of human emotion.