182. Hiram Powers United States 1805-1873 "Proserpine".
Signed/inscribed Hiram Powers. Marble. Height 56 cm. Marble pedestal, height 107.5 cm included.
Minor chips.
- Department: Sculpture
- Auction: 6 December 2011, lot 182
- Viewing: 30 November – 5 December 2011
Other
Proserpine (or Persephone) was in ancient mythology the only daughter of Ceres (Demeter), the goddess of harvest. Prosperine was abducted by Pluto, god of the underworld, and held captive for four months of the year, thereby causing the season of winter, but was released to earth again each spring.
Proserpine was one of the sculptor Hiram Powers's most popular subjects and underwent several changes by the artist. The present work is an example from the second version in which Powers replaced an elaborate wreath of wheat with a classical base of acanthus leaves.