Posted by David Mc (195.99.46.101) on August 31, 1999 at 12:59:17:
Jen. After reading your posting regarding the granite sculpture of the suffering man, I just had to see if I could find a photo of it. I logged on to the Chicago Art Institute web site but was unable to find it. Then, has luck would have it, I was looking at some CD-ROMs in my local library today, and I spotted one containing images from the Art Institute of Chicago. I searched it for a sculpture entitled 'Suffering' to no avail, then found a granite bust of Saint Stephen that fitted your description. The details given as as follows: William Rimmer, American, 1816 - 1874, SAINT STEPHEN (1860) Granite, height: 55.2 cm. Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death in approximately 35 AD. This sculpted head expresses the saint's great agony, and Rimmer intended it also to express his own suffering as a struggling artist. Rimmer lived in Massachusetts where granite was plentiful, and he taught himself to carve this hard stone.
I can see clearly how the head leans to the right as it twists to make a connection with the rising right shoulder. The expression on his face is indeed not unlike one we have all seen reflected back when we too are in agony. Stephen's stoning only happened the once; maybe some day someone will sculpture one of us as we go through our umpteenth agony! (Er...if we can sit still long enough for the job to be done!)
Your message said that it was a plaster bust of a young boy so this one I'm looking at maybe a different one?
I remember reading somewhere that doctors can look at a painting or a sculture of a person and say what ailments that person had, I think the bit I was reading was about the self portrait of Rembrant (is that spelt correct? Ar who cares you know who I mean) and this doctor gave a detailed description of his illness. Be interesting if anyone can find a painting or a sculpture of a CHer using this method.
On a different tack, does anyone else find that using the fingers to apply presure to the carotid pulse on neck on the side of the head that is in pain helps to somewhat lessen the pain?
Best wishes to you...
David Mc