Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour cleverly located at the intersection of religion and politics. This is an open thread where we can share our thoughts and comments about the day. I thought we might start off today by looking a sculpture by Auguste Rodin.
From 1864 until 1882, August Rodin was employed in the workshop of the sculptor A. Carrier-Belleuse. The master sculptor conceived a decorative jardinière in which a group of human figures would hold a shallow bowl. Rodin then reworked this basic concept in which the Titans from Greek mythology would hold the bowl. In Greek mythology, the Titans were condemned to support the heavens upon their shoulders and in Rodin’s vase four Titans twist and strain in an effort to sustain their burden.
The Vase of Titans is displayed at the Maryhill Museum of Art near Goldendale, Washington. According to the display:
“Rodin executed the jardinière after returning from Italy. Influenced and inspired by Michelangelo, Rodin’s Titans convey a sense of struggle in performing their eternal task. The expressive force of the Titans’ musculature recalls Michelangelo’s Ignudi of the Sistine Chapel.”
The Vase of Titans was done about 1875 and while it is acknowledged that Rodin designed this work, it carries the signature of Carrier-Belleuse because it was manufactured in his atelier.
Shown above are two views of the Vase of Titans.
The four figures shown above are from the Vase of Titans.
Open Thread
This is an open—all topics are welcome.