Puck at The Walker Art Gallery, Birmingham

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Harriet Hosmer's most renowned work, a marble sculpture of Puck from Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', showcased her impressive skills as an American artist. Born in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1830, Hosmer was one of the leading female artists of the 19th century. She spent most of her life in Rome, where she played a key role in a group of women artists who used their neoclassical sculptures to express feminist and anti-slavery views. Hosmer's early training came under the guidance of John Gibson, a Welsh sculptor who provided her with a studio at his home. Her sculptures, though following Gibson's style, reflected her own feminist perspectives by depicting the struggles of female figures. As she sought financial independence in Rome, Hosmer turned to creating marble replicas of literary characters, recognizing their commercial appeal. She produced thirty copies of 'Puck', earning over $30,000 and catching the attention of the Prince of Wales, who purchased one replica from his personal funds in 1859. The success of these reproductions allowed her to explore more progressive themes. A pioneering figure in the history of art, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights, Hosmer's 'sisterhood' of women artists boldly rejected traditional social norms. Hosmer lived life on her own terms: she rejected marriage, supported herself financially, and wore masculine attire. She shocked Rome by riding a horse unaccompanied, defying the societal expectations placed on women at that time. Her groundbreaking achievements paved the way for future generations of female sculptors, proving that women could excel in traditionally male-dominated fields like anatomy and marble carving. This 3D scan originates from Oliver Laric's 'threedscans' initiative, an ongoing project titled 'Versions'. The goal is to explore image hierarchies through historical and contemporary perspectives. Each model produced by Laric is free for anyone to download and use without copyright restrictions. If you utilize the models, please notify stw@myminifactory.com and contact@threedscans.com.