Clytie

Clytie is a water nymph from Greek mythology who fell in love with Apollo and never took her eyes off him as he flew across the sky. Eventually, she became a sunflower, forever turning its face with the course of the sun. Hiram Powers likely based this sculpture on an antique Roman bust in the British Museum that was widely reproduced across Europe. Powers added a sunflower to the figure's hair to symbolize Clytie's fate.

About the sculpture

Particulars

In the same room · Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 19A, Smithsonian American Art Museum

On the same theme · Sculpture model

Yes, receiving visitors

What it shows

In the catalog

Sources

Andrew Jackson

George Washington

The Greek Slave

Fisher Boy

Proserpine

Bust of "The Greek Slave"

America

California

Hope, modeled 1869

Charity, modeled ca. 1867

Clytie, modeled ca. 1867

Faith, modeled 1867

Hope, modeled 1866

Ideal Christ, modeled 1864

The Greek Slave, modeled 1841-1843

Proserpine, 1839-1873

William West Durant, modeled 1863

Philosophy (bust of figure on front facade of New York Public Library), modeled ca. 1915

Eve Disconsolate, modeled 1855-1861

Chivalry, Half-scale Head for General George G. Meade Memorial, 1917-1920

Preliminary Model of Male Figure from Fountain of Engineers, ca. 1905-1914

Hope, modeled 1869

Model for Seated Statue of James Smithson, 1904

Head of Marquis de Lafayette (Lafayette Monument, Paris, France), modeled 1899-1907

Clytie

About the sculpture

Particulars

More by Hiram Powers

In the same room · Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 19A, Smithsonian American Art Museum

On the same theme · Sculpture model

Yes, receiving visitors

What it shows

In the catalog

Sources

Andrew Jackson

George Washington

The Greek Slave

Fisher Boy

Proserpine

Bust of "The Greek Slave"

America

California

Hope, modeled 1869

Charity, modeled ca. 1867

Clytie, modeled ca. 1867

Faith, modeled 1867

Hope, modeled 1866

Ideal Christ, modeled 1864

The Greek Slave, modeled 1841-1843

Proserpine, 1839-1873

William West Durant, modeled 1863

Philosophy (bust of figure on front facade of New York Public Library), modeled ca. 1915

Eve Disconsolate, modeled 1855-1861

Chivalry, Half-scale Head for General George G. Meade Memorial, 1917-1920

Preliminary Model of Male Figure from Fountain of Engineers, ca. 1905-1914

Hope, modeled 1869

Model for Seated Statue of James Smithson, 1904

Head of Marquis de Lafayette (Lafayette Monument, Paris, France), modeled 1899-1907