Gustavus Goward (1845-1908) 1902

Editor: This is Julia Bracken's relief sculpture of Gustavus Goward. It's a somber portrait, isn't it? How should we interpret this kind of commemorative piece? Curator: Well, these reliefs often served a public function, immortalizing figures within institutions. Notice how Goward is framed by classical motifs. What does that suggest about how he was viewed by the institution commissioning the work? Editor: That he was a figure to be revered, I guess? Like a Roman emperor or something? Curator: Precisely. And think about the politics of representation. Who gets memorialized, and what values are being promoted through their image? These choices reflect a specific power dynamic. Editor: It's interesting to consider who gets remembered and why. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It prompts us to ask, whose stories are missing from these halls?