Franklin D. Murphy 1995

This bronze bust, titled Franklin D. Murphy, was made by Richard Howard Ellis. You can almost feel Ellis coaxing the figure from the material, pinching and pulling the clay to life. I wonder what Ellis was thinking as he worked? I imagine him studying Murphy from every angle, trying to capture not just his likeness, but also something of his spirit. Look at the texture. See how the light catches on the rough surfaces, particularly around the eyes and brow. What does it mean to translate a three-dimensional form into another three-dimensional form? The history of sculpture is so rich and diverse, from the ancient Greeks to Rodin, each artist building upon the innovations of their predecessors. It’s like a conversation across time. And here, in this piece, Ellis adds his voice to the chorus. It is a sensitive rendering which leaves space for our own interpretation. Isn't that the point?