Philomela 1922

This bronze sculpture, Philomela, was made by John Gregory sometime in the first half of the 20th century. I wonder what it was like to work on this, to hold that clay in your hands and tease out the expression, the pose. I can imagine Gregory adjusting the angle of her wings again and again until they struck the right balance between vulnerability and strength. Her gaze is averted, but she’s got these amazing wings which seem so solid. It’s almost like the wings are shielding her, as though she is protecting herself with them. You can see where his fingers worked the clay around her torso. The light catches on all these curves. I wonder if he was thinking about other sculptures from the past, maybe trying to create a modern version of an ancient myth? Anyway, I like the idea of artists across time, sharing ideas and inspiring each other. It is about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.