America 1850 - 1854

Hiram Powers created this marble bust, titled "America," in the 19th century, and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The cool, smooth surface of the marble and the neoclassical style evoke a sense of serene dignity. The composition centers on the idealized female form, draped in classical garb, which immediately situates the work within a tradition of allegorical representation. Powers uses the bust to embody the concept of "America" through a blend of classical and contemporary symbols. This approach is indicative of the period's fascination with melding ancient virtues with modern national identity. Note how the precisely carved drapery and the subject's composed expression contribute to a discourse about national character and ideals, which are not fixed but continuously shaped through artistic interpretation.