Clytie c. 1868 - 1870

sculpture, marble

3d sculpting

sculpture

jewelry design

3d character model

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

3d shape

framed image

sculpture

vessel shaped image

united-states

marble

statue

Hiram Powers's marble bust, *Clytie*, depicts the nymph Clytie, a figure from Greek mythology, who was transformed into a sunflower after she was spurned by Apollo. The bust is a classic example of the Neoclassical style, popular in the 19th century, characterized by its smooth, idealized forms, and its emphasis on classical beauty. The sculpture is notable for its realistic portrayal of Clytie's sorrowful expression and her delicate features, which are emphasized by the smooth white marble. The bust was completed around 1870 and is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Hiram Powers's bust of the ancient Greek sea nymph Clytie was the artist's attempt to create a bust of ideal female beauty, a concept popular during the middle of the 19th century. Clytie, the daughter of the god of the sea, Oceanus, was so enamored with the sun god, Apollo, that every day she watched his course across the sky. Apollo took pity on her and transformed her into a heliotrope, or sunflower. Clytie became, therefore, the symbol of unwavering love. In rendering Clytie, Powers was directly inspired by a classical Roman bust in the British Museum thought to represent Antonia, mother of Germanicus and the Emperor Claudius. He would have seen reproductions of this bust in engravings as well as marble and porcelain copies which were widely circulated at the time.