Description
Your blind uncle is back in town.You did such a wonderful job describing a work of art that he’s returned for more. But this time he’s interested in learning something else—namely, about representations of death and the afterlife. You see, he’s beginning to think about his mortality and is seeking insight on how past cultures have conceived of and represented this idea. Compare two sculptures from the Metropolitan Museum of Art from distinct cultures (i.e., Egyptian, Greek/Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, etc.), offering a descriptive and thematic analysis of representations of the culture’s “take” on death. Choose two works from the list below– or a different pair (approved by the instructor); they must be from different cultures. Concisely and clearly describe the formal properties of the sculptures—i.e., what is represented, what medium is used, how the forms are modeled, etc. Note of any key similarities and differences. What function did the works serve? For what (likely) settings were they originally intended? For what (likely) patron? Based on their stylistic, and thematic characteristics, how do they reflect the attitudes toward death of their respective cultures?
Conclusion: Suggest which of the two works would offer your uncle more insight and/or comfort as a funerary monument? Why? If there was one (minor) adjustment or change you would make to the work to better accommodate your uncle’s ideals, what would it be?
Group 1: Egyptian
Yuny and His Wife Renenutet, ca.1290-1270 BCE, Asyut limestone (15.2.1) – gallery 124
Group 2: Greek and Roman
Marble Sarcophagus Lid with Reclining Couple, Roman, Severan, ca.220 CE, marble (1993.11.1) – gallery 169
Guidelines
• Double spaced; 4-6 pages in length; with normal margins and font size (i.e., 12-point)
• Include title, culture, artist’s name (if known) and approx. date of work at beginning of the essay
• All ideas or quotations borrowed from outside sources must be properly footnoted or cited
• All sources used over the course of research must be listed in a separate bibliography
– USE MLA FORMAT!
A useful resource for your research is the MMA’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, which you can access at: www.metmuseum.org/toah
