Medea
by STORY, William Wetmore, White marble, height 119 cm
The sculptor intended to convey the extreme emotions that tormented the literary characters popular in his time. Ha represented the mythical Medea about to exact a terrible revenge on her adulterous husband Jason. The figure is imbued with the classical beauty and mastery of marble that runs throughout Story’s work.
There are several versions of this statue, the present one, made 10 years after the first version was completed, seems to be the only version under life size. It is signed and dated in cypher: W S / ROMA 1876, and entitled: MEDEA.