Charles Montraville Green (1850-1928) 1913

Editor: This is Bela Lyon Pratt’s marble bust of Charles Montraville Green. There's a stillness to the figure, almost a solemn presence. What symbols or meanings do you find embedded within this portrait? Curator: Consider the marble, a classical material evoking permanence and status. It also suggests purity and perhaps even a hint of the divine. Notice Green's attire, the suit, the tie: what do these signify in terms of social standing and professional role? Editor: They suggest respectability, perhaps. And something about civic duty? Curator: Precisely. Look closely at the details – the mustache, the way the light catches his brow. These details create a character; what do they convey to you about Green's personality, his perceived wisdom or authority? Editor: Now I’m seeing a man of experience and perhaps some concern etched into the marble. Thank you, I hadn't considered the power of the details.