Object number
UAC/10831
Title
Torso of Protesilaus,
Creator
Description
Carved stone sculpture of Protesilaus. The figure is carrying a circular shield, he is wearing a breast plate with a strap over this chest - possibly for a bow. A snake is carved to the base. Protesilaus was hero in Homer's Iliad and first warrior to be slain by Hector during the Trojan Wars. The name is carved on the reverse of the sculpture in bold, stylised lettering. The sculpture is made of bath stone. Sculpted in 1990 whilst Eric Stanford was at Bulmersh College.
Physical description
bath stone
Label Text
<div style="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><p><span><span>Eric Stanford (b. 1932)</span></span></p><p><span><span>Torso of Protesilaus</span></span></p><p><span><span>1990</span></span></p><p><span><span>Bath stone carving</span></span></p><p><span><span>Standford depicts the tragic Greek hero Protesilaus, replete with geometric shield and baldric (belt), gazing into the distance as swirling forms engulf his legs. The swirls evoke waves, which suggest Protesilaus' doomed march to the Trojn shore. He put himself at the fore of the Greek onslaught, despitean oracle's warning that this would result in certain death. The carving also recalls the melting bronze figure of Protesilaus, cherished by his grief-striken wife, Laodameia, who followed it into the fire when her own father cast it away.</span></span></p><p><span><span>The University of Reading Art Collection</span></span></p></div>
Production date
1990 - 1990
School/style
British
Object name
Material
Technique
Dimensions
- Height 66.8 cm
- Width 39.3 cm
- Depth 37 cm
Credit line
The University of Reading Art Collection © Estate of Eric Stanford
