Auguste Rodin

1926-28

There are several films and novels that exposed me to this piece. I was even able to see a replica of the piece. One of my first college class field trips had a recreation at a museum. I enjoy the angles and medium that was used. I feel that the brass used to create the piece gives it a visual weight to the figures depicted in the piece. I would own a small recreation as it really stuck with me.

Michelangelo

1501

I was exposed to this piece from several religious writings when I was younger. One of the social science teachers in middle school had a partial recreation of the piece. I enjoy the fact though the statue is to be of a pious individual, it’s depiction always appeared to have a wrathful countenance. Although the inspiration was to be a religious icon, portrayed as under prepared, the facial expression and depth of lines in the marble instead communicate unwavering strength.

Nicholas Halmi

1891

My exposure to this piece was first the film The Saint  with Val Kilmer and Elizabeth Shue. I feel that the marble gives a layer of otherworldly rejection to the piece. I felt that this poignant as the character of The Saint, a criminal, was rejected from his world, just as Shelly that inspired the piece. I was more enamored with the piece than the film and remembered it after all these years.

Silvia Shaw Judson

1936

My first exposure to this piece was the film and novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

I really love how the posing of the piece conveys both peace and contemplation with a twinge of guilt. I was fortunate enough to have a family member that lives in the state near the city of Savanna and was able to visit the statue in person. It felt very wrong somehow, like it was here in the world to deliver a message, then eventually disappear.

H.W. Bissen

1834-35

One of my favorite opera’s is Richard Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung/Nibelunglied , specifically Sigurd the Volsung. One of my favorite scenes is the gifts given to Sigurd by the warrior woman, a Valkyrie, to Sigurd. Although the tale of Sigurd the Volsung focuses on Sigurdand his eventual fall from naive choices, Brunhilde, the Valkyrie is also given some agency and detail.  In some retellings, they are elevated to have their own abilities, such as popular media (Disney’s Marvel, Square Enix video games, Numerous Nordic and Non European small features). I enjoy the pieces call back to some of the ancient telling's of the Valkyries from the Nordic tales about the adventures and abilities.