A descriptive analysis and comparison of two paintings

¶ … Paintings

Fighting and dying for a cause has always been a noble act, a theme which permeates across cultural and generational boundaries. It is this theme that is explored within the two pieces seen at the Museum of Metropolitan Art, yet expressed in different terms. While the Amazon woman shows no emotion, thus portraying the honor of her warrior soul, St. Sebastian is allowed to express extreme emotion, therefore showing the great sacrifice he had made through his martyrdom.

The first piece to be examined was the "Statue of a Wounded Amazon," found on the first floor of the Metropolitan museum. This is a marble Roman copy, done around the first or second century AD, of an earlier Greek bronze work around 450-425 BC.

It was given to the museum by the infamous John D. Rockefeller Jr. The statue itself shows a wounded Amazon woman, the Amazons "were a race of formidable warrior women, noted for their skills in archery and horsemanship."

Within Greek mythology, these women were incredibly beautiful, and thus inspired many Greek warriors to fall hopelessly in love with them. This beauty is reflected in the statue, for although she is a wounded warrior, she stands gracefully like a woman. As she rests on a column to her side, her stance portray her true femininity, especially in comparison to male warrior images of the same time. Yet, it is clear that something is wrong in the way her dress has been torn and broken, showing her injury. Even despite what could be a mortal injury, the Amazon stands emotionless, with no sign of pain or anguish on the face of the statue. This is a testament to the strength and true warrior characteristics that were supposed to embody the Amazon women of Greek mythology.

The second work portrays St., Sebastian. It was originally finished in the late 15th century, and so shows telltale signs of being a piece from that Medieval period. Despite is probable Austrian origins in the more modern era, this piece reflects the Roman style of capturing figures in statue form. Made from Ivory, it shows St. Sebastian in withering pain after he has been injured. The St. was martyred early on in Christian history, and this scene portrays his last dying breaths, being held up by a companion.

Both works present images of great warriors and figures in heir last few moments of life after being injured. Thus, it captures the true character of the figures in question by portraying them at their moment of ultimate weakness. Each figure is too weak to stand alone, and is being propped up by another object or person, which shows the true extent of their injuries. Additionally, the statues are similar in style, on being from the Roman period, and the other being from the Medieval period trying to replicate the style of the Roman period.