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Artistic Analysis Essay
The Death of Adonis was sculpted by Giuseppe Mazzuoli in 1709. Mazzuoli was born in 1644 in Volterra, Italy. As a budding sculptor, he studied in Sienna, and eventually moved to Rome to study under Baroque sculptor Melchiorre Cafa. Both Cafa and Mazzuoli were heavily influenced by famous Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Bernini even employed Mazzuoli to help work on the Tomb of Pope Alexander VII between 1672 and 1678. Even though Mazzuoli produced many renowned Baroque sculptures, he was never considered a leading Baroque sculptor.
Mazzuoli’s The Death of Adonis exhibits many Baroque characteristics such as stressed movement, mythological references, refined textures and evocative gestures. In mythology, Adonis is considered the most beautiful man. Mazzuoli's choice to sculpt him near-naked reveals his muscular body and emphasizes his beauty. Mazzuoli's sculpture captures the climax of the story when Adonis is stabbed in the groin by a wild boar. Adonis is caught mid-motion trying to avoid the boar, yet he is unsuccessful. Although the viewer cannot see the wound, Adonis's face and the contortion of his body convey fear and pain. Underneath Adonis is the hunting spear which he used to try to kill the boar. He failed to use the hunting spear, and it is now useless as he is trampling over it. Ovid and Mazzuoli's work are very similar, and there are no key differences in this part of the story. Fear is conveyed in both Ovid's written work and Mazzuoli's sculpture. Although Ovid's work is the total story of Adonis, his death, and Venus's reaction, Mazzuoli's sculpture perfectly captures Adonis's shock and terror of dying.
Mazzuoli’s The Death of Adonis exhibits many Baroque characteristics such as stressed movement, mythological references, refined textures and evocative gestures. In mythology, Adonis is considered the most beautiful man. Mazzuoli's choice to sculpt him near-naked reveals his muscular body and emphasizes his beauty. Mazzuoli's sculpture captures the climax of the story when Adonis is stabbed in the groin by a wild boar. Adonis is caught mid-motion trying to avoid the boar, yet he is unsuccessful. Although the viewer cannot see the wound, Adonis's face and the contortion of his body convey fear and pain. Underneath Adonis is the hunting spear which he used to try to kill the boar. He failed to use the hunting spear, and it is now useless as he is trampling over it. Ovid and Mazzuoli's work are very similar, and there are no key differences in this part of the story. Fear is conveyed in both Ovid's written work and Mazzuoli's sculpture. Although Ovid's work is the total story of Adonis, his death, and Venus's reaction, Mazzuoli's sculpture perfectly captures Adonis's shock and terror of dying.