Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra - Harriet Hosmer

Purchased with funds provided by the Antiquarian Society

"Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra" by Harriet Hosmer (modeled c. 1859; carved after 1859) Marble.

Commentary

"Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra" by Harriet Hosmer (modeled c. 1859; carved after 1859) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. Because the work is spatial, changes in viewpoint and light can no ticeably alter its emotional impact. Themes to notice include sculpture. This piece is held in the source collection's Arts of the Americas collection. Harriet Hosmer is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Harriet Hosmer (American, 1830–1908). The work is cataloged within a United States cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as sculpture, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Marble) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (86.4 × 57.2 × 31.8 cm (34 × 22 1/2 × 12 1/2 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include sculpture. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/125652

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data