Mephistopheles
Bust
ca. 1875 (made)
ca. 1875 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Antokolsky (1843-1902) was the foremost Russian sculptor of the late 19th century. He trained in St. Petersburg and Rome, where the model for this bust was produced, and eventually settled in Paris. He is responsible for some powerful statues of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great as well as various Romantic subjects of which this bust is characteristic. It is derived from a marble bust of 1875 formerly in the Alexander III Museum, now known as the "State Russian Museum" or the "Russian Museum", St. Petersburg.
Mephistopheles, as Satan's emissary, was a central figure in the Faust legend which, following Goethe's drama, became a popular subject in painting, literature and opera.
Mephistopheles, as Satan's emissary, was a central figure in the Faust legend which, following Goethe's drama, became a popular subject in painting, literature and opera.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Mephistopheles (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | |
Brief description | Bust, bronze, 'Mephistopheles', by Mark Antokol'sky, Russia, ca.1875 |
Physical description | Mephistopheles is shown undraped, looking straight ahead; he has a small goatee beard, and sharp features, including a slightly twisted mouth. The bust is signed. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | 'Antokolski' |
Credit line | Given by Mr and Mrs A. Gourvitch |
Object history | Given by Mr and Mrs A Gourvitch, Chelsea Park Gardens, London, in 1982. |
Summary | Antokolsky (1843-1902) was the foremost Russian sculptor of the late 19th century. He trained in St. Petersburg and Rome, where the model for this bust was produced, and eventually settled in Paris. He is responsible for some powerful statues of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great as well as various Romantic subjects of which this bust is characteristic. It is derived from a marble bust of 1875 formerly in the Alexander III Museum, now known as the "State Russian Museum" or the "Russian Museum", St. Petersburg. Mephistopheles, as Satan's emissary, was a central figure in the Faust legend which, following Goethe's drama, became a popular subject in painting, literature and opera. |
Bibliographic reference | Thieme-Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon…., Leipzig, 1982, p. 547 |
Collection | |
Accession number | A.9-1982 |
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Record created | November 5, 2002 |
Record URL |
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