Hope

Hiram Powers, Hope, modeled 1866, marble, 28 1219 1211 34 in. (72.549.429.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase in memory of Ralph Cross Johnson, 1968.155.27
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Hope
Artist
Date
modeled 1866
Dimensions
28 1219 1211 34 in. (72.549.429.7 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase in memory of Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
marble
Classifications
Subjects
  • Dress — historic — classical dress
  • Allegory — quality — hope
Object Number
1968.155.27

Artwork Description

The three busts Hope, Faith, and Charity were commissioned by Marshall Woods, a prominent figure from Rhode Island. In 1852 he visited Hiram Powers’s studio and requested a pair of ideal sculptures. Powers did not act on this, however, and on a second trip to Florence fourteen years later Woods repeated his request. Powers persuaded him to commission three statues instead of two, of the Christian virtues faith, hope, and charity. All three figures have the same composed expression, but Powers created different emotions by altering the direction of each woman’s gaze: Hope looks to the side in anticipation, Faith lifts her head with confidence, and Charity stares straight ahead in contemplation.

Works by this artist (11 items)

Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Man with Beard, Closed Eyes, Tie), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.595, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Man with Beard, Closed Eyes, Tie)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Table Top with Water Glass and Salt Shaker), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.597, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Table Top with Water Glass and Salt Shaker)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Workshirt Front), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.599, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Workshirt Front)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Ralph Gibson, Untitled (Man's Face Wearing Hat and Sunglasses), 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.603, © Ralph Gibson
Untitled (Man’s Face Wearing Hat and Sunglasses)
Date1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Bently
Dateca. 1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view