William Shakespeare 1870 - 1911

Curator: Standing before us, we have John Quincy Adams Ward’s bronze sculpture, "William Shakespeare," conceived between 1870 and 1911. Editor: It's imposing, isn’t it? There's a heaviness, both literal and figurative, about the texture of the bronze and Shakespeare’s serious expression. It makes me feel reflective. Curator: Ward created several casts of this work, a testament to Shakespeare’s enduring cultural relevance, particularly in America during the late 19th century. Think of the burgeoning theater scene and the romanticism surrounding the idea of the literary genius. Editor: The realism is striking. Look at the precise details of the clothing – the folds, the buttons and seams. But beyond accuracy, how do these textures create the illusion of fabric and shape our understanding of his personification? It's incredible craftsmanship. Curator: This particular representation tells a story. Placing such a monumental statue in prominent locations like Central Park certainly contributed to canonizing Shakespeare within American intellectual life, a conscious effort to shape cultural identity. Editor: I notice the placement of his left hand. It holds what appears to be a manuscript, yet it's also open, suggestive. Does this direct the gaze to ponder what knowledge is captured there and how it might spill onto us? Curator: Exactly, these statues were tools of cultural production, shaping the collective memory. Commissioned by wealthy patrons, institutions and later reproduced, their function was clear, to inspire and legitimize certain cultural values. Editor: It's an excellent piece to experience materially. Considering the interplay of light and shadow, the smooth and rough bronze surfaces and even considering its volumetric presence creates new possibilities for reflecting upon the human form. Curator: Precisely, its influence resonates even today, continuing the cycle of creating cultural icons. Editor: An intriguing conversation about an intriguing statue! It reveals more secrets the more one reflects on its textures and composition.