Atlas Supporting the Globe 1500 - 1899

Andrea Briosco, or Riccio, crafted this bronze sculpture, titled "Atlas Supporting the Globe." We see Atlas, burdened with the weight of the world, a symbol deeply rooted in antiquity, evoking strength, endurance, and the cosmos' immeasurable pressures. This image recalls ancient Greek depictions, where Atlas was condemned to hold up the heavens, a punishment for defying the gods. The weight of the globe elicits a sense of collective human struggle. Interestingly, a small figure rests atop the globe, seemingly unburdened, adding layers of meaning. It reminds us of earlier images where the globe was a symbol of power and earthly dominion. But here, the image evokes a sense of existential weight. The motif of bearing weight resurfaces throughout art history, from the caryatids of the Acropolis to the stooped figures in Renaissance paintings, each carrying its symbolic load. The emotional resonance of the image lies in its capacity to mirror our own burdens, those heavy responsibilities and anxieties we carry individually and collectively through time.