Theodore Parkers Statue - Term Paper Example

Theodore Parker’s Statue Three dimensional sculptures are exceptional art forms in existence since ancient times. Different people and cultures across the world create sculptures for a variety of reasons through various techniques and using different materials. Three dimensional sculptures fill spaces through expressive emotions, ideas and appearances (Sayre 76). Sculptures in the round refer to self-supporting sculpture surrounded by space all round. On the other hand, relief sculptures are those not visible from all sides. This paper will examine the statue of Theodore Parker located West Roxbury, Massachusetts examining different elements of the statue. Theodore Parker statue exemplifies the characteristics of the revered man who fought against slavery. The Theodore Parker statue is a sculpture created by Robert Kraus and installed in the year 1902. The statue is a tribute to Theodore Parker who was a church minister and human rights advocate. The sculpture is believed to reflect democratic ideals of the post-slavery era. Theodore Parker was a strong advocate of human rights, particularly with regards to anti slavery freedoms of the Black community in America and other developed nations. The minister advocated the abolition of prejudicial societal and political norms and beliefs, which considered Africans and African Americans as inferior to the Whites. Therefore, the statue aims at signifying Theodore Parker’s democratic ideals and fortifying these ideals in the minds of all Americans. In addition to championing the rights of Africans and African Americans against the constraints of slavery, Theodore Parker also sought the liberation of women from sexist beliefs, which confined women’s duties and freedoms to those dictated by males in the society. The statue has a massive granite base that features various symbolic female figures located on bronze plaques (Sayre 110). The theme behind these allegorical figures is the unmasking of mankind’s past errors such as slavery, as well as the awakening of humans to the notion of equity. In essence, the figures aim at pushing people to love not only God but man, as well. Theodore Parker’s statue is a subtractive sculpture with the primary medium used in the sculpture being bronze although its base consists solely of granite. With regard to the statue’s dimension, the sculpture is a seated, human-sized figure of Theodore Parker measuring 71.2 x 33.4 x 35.6 cm. The texture of Theodore Parker’s statue goes beyond aesthetic value (SCTCS 2). The statue’s textural characteristics encompass immense fortitude displayed by Theodore Parker during his lifetime. In essence, the statue’s texture aims at conjuring in the minds of its viewers feelings of gratitude (for Theodore Parker’s exemplary anti-slavery crusades), as well as reverence for all persons involved in the fight against slavery. The sculpture serves as a reminder of American’s struggles against democratic injustices such as slavery. Despite its relatively small size, the statue exudes a sense of authority. Moreover, the art work richly employs the use of lines and shapes, which provide the statue a sense of liveliness. The lines used in the art form entail the left hand resting on a book placed on the right thigh. Conversely, the right hand rests on the left hand. This alignment speaks to the statue’s manifestation of Theodore Parker’s learned nature, as well as his calm disposition. Another notable use of lines and shapes is the hair, which consists of close-lying ringlets while the delicate lines simplify the body of the statue. The statue’s eyes are marked quite strongly giving the illusion that Theodore Parker remains watchful of the people to ensure their adherence to the ideals that he and so many other people fought to achieve (SCTCS 2). The statue’s eyes consist of incised pupil and iris, which speak to the watchfulness and keenness of Theodore Parker and others who fought against racial subjugation. In addition, the sculptor also made use of semi-parallel drapery folds in the statue’s clothing. The statue’s position exemplifies ideals such as active listening, especially with regard to policy makers who need to appreciate what the populace undergoes. The posture of the statue appears to suggest unity through the clasped hands on top of the book situated on the thigh. Notably, the statue sits at an effortless pose, which portrays a sense of momentary action. The book clasped in the statue’s hand is presumably a Bible, which denotes Theodore Parker’s faith and strong belief in God. Such aesthetic presentation speaks to Christian’s belief in the significance of loving both God and human beings. With regard to the color of the sculpture, the sculpture primarily consists of a deep bronze color that provides a warm sense of openness. This signifies the form’s candidness to the society that surrounds it, as well as persons who inflicted pain on others, for instance, slave masters and merchants. In essence, the statue is implicit of a humanist hero who paid attention to the suffering undergone by people of the black community on account of slavery. The sculpture is; hence a tribute not only to Theodore Parker but also others, either known or unknown, who helped in the struggle against racial discrimination. Light strikes the statue and illuminates premeditated positions such as the statue’s eyes, hands, face, thighs and knees. The statue’s positioning also ensures that light falls evenly across the sculpture’s face and the book clasped in its hands (SCTCS 2). This reinforces the premise that Theodore Parker upheld knowledge, especially in terms of Biblical as the channel for liberation. Theodore Parker believed that the love of God towards mankind, as well as that of mankind towards God, was sufficient to allow human beings to treat one another with kindness, fairness and love. In conclusion, the art form demonstrates the appreciation of the people of America towards Theodore Parker and others who participated in the struggle against slavery. Elements inherent to the statue affirm the notion that statues, as well as other three dimensional art forms, consist of valuable elements that signify the purpose of such art forms. Theodore Parker’s statue is a self-supporting sculpture surrounded by space on all its sides. The process used to create the statue was carving as the sculptor cut and chipped the form from a mass of bronze material (Sayre 95). This subtractive method produced the sculpture that reveres Theodore Parker for his stance on social issues such as slavery. Works Cited Sayre, H. A World of Art. 3rd ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2000. Print. Standing Committee of the Twenty-eighth Congregational Society (SCTCS). A Statue to Theodore Parker: To the Friends of Theodore Parker, and All who venerate His Memory. Boston: SCTCS, 1881. Print. Read More