Goddess of Hope

myminifactory

As a neo-classicist, Thorvaldsen drew inspiration primarily from Antiquity's art, but with a special focus on the naturalistic classical style. Yet in 1817 he embarked on a mission to revive older pre-classical sculptures, despite the stiff, archaic style of these relics being vastly different from his own aesthetic. This bold move had a profound impact on The Goddess of Hope sculpture he was working on at the time. The resulting piece is characterized by a static quality and an unusually consistent frontal approach, symmetry, and high degree of stylization. In her hand, the goddess holds a pomegranate flower, a potent symbol of fertility and eternal life.