Memorial Ring c. 1937

Lillian Hunter made this watercolor painting of a Memorial Ring. The central image, encased in an oval frame, depicts a scene reminiscent of classical mourning rituals, with draped figures surrounding what appears to be a graveside. The act of memorializing the dead through art and jewelry stretches back into antiquity. Think of ancient Roman cameos, where portraits of loved ones were immortalized in miniature. The ring format itself is significant; it is a circle, an emblem of eternity, of unending remembrance. It is interesting to notice how different cultures have used rings to keep those who have passed away close to them. A ring becomes a tangible symbol of affection and memory. What we see here, however, is not just a continuation of the past, but an evolution. The artist imbues the scene with a neoclassical sensibility, yet adapts it to her own time. So the cycle continues, looping us back to the ancient world even as it propels us forward.