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An Oread
An Oread

An Oread

Artist (Inverurie, Scotland, 1856 - 1938)
Date1910
Mediumbronze on polished stone base
ClassificationsSculptures
DimensionsOverall: Height: 52.5 cm, Width: 29 cm, Depth: 21 cm
Plinth Size: Height: 5.5 cm, Width: 23 cm, Depth: 19 cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 1969.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationOn Display - Gallery 10
Object numberABDAG004675
Keywords
Other Titles
  • Eos
About MeJames Pittendrigh Macgillivray was closely aligned to the Celtic revival and wrote poems in the 'doric'. His art, however, was more often inspired, as here, by Greek mythology. An oread is the Greek word for a nymph.

Macgillivray's realistic interpretation of the female form is typical of late 19th century sculpture. At that time bronze was the favoured sculpting material, since it allowed the artist to carve and mould freely in clay, then cast from this original. Michelangelo was the Old Master to whom most of the sculptors of the day deferred and Auguste Rodin the modern-day idol. As in Rodin's work here the marks of the sculptor's tools and finger tips remain clearly visible, giving the work a very arresting immediacy.

More About Me
Similar to the dryads who presided over forests, in Greek mythology oreads were mountain nymphs. Maybe Macgillivray saw a couple of lost ones wandering in the Cairngorms...
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