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Catalog Data

Artist:
William Ordway Partridge, born Paris, France 1861-died New York City 1930  Search this
Sitter:
Percy B. Shelley  Search this
Medium:
plaster
Dimensions:
23 1/4 x 13 x 10 1/2 in. (59.1 x 33.0 x 26.8 cm.)
Type:
Sculpture
Date:
n.d., copyrighted 1899
Luce Center Label:
William Ordway Partridge created numerous idealized portraits of famous writers, musicians, and artists. He used his own experience as a writer and poet to model sensitive images of the artists, often portraying them deep in thought. In this portrait the English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) is shown with a downward gaze and slightly tilted head. His dreamy expression evokes a sense of introspection, as if he is away in a world of his own.
Luce Object Quote:
“Eternal Soul of man, how strong to save!How strong to live, outlasting death’s great pain!Remembering Shelley’s triumph, we grow braveTo barter life itself for surer gain-Since joy beyond all vision rent the night,When that swift spirit melted into light.”From the poem “Shelley” by William Partridge, Archives of American Art
Topic:
Occupation\writer\poet  Search this
Portrait male\bust  Search this
Credit Line:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. William Ordway Partridge
Object number:
1994.73
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department:
Painting and Sculpture
On View:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 20A
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
Data Source:
Smithsonian American Art Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk75baf2753-63af-41c8-950e-6b9590932abe
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:saam_1994.73