Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Effigy

Mark Rothko
Untitled (Harvard Mural Sketch)
1962
mixed media on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC


Morton Bartlett
Painted Plaster Figure of Boy
ca. 1950
gelatin silver print
(figure created by the photographer)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Della Robbia Workshop
Virgin and Child
16th century
glazed terracotta
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri

Thomas Rowlandson after James Gillray
Blood Royal
(caricature of Ernest August, Duke of Cumberland)
ca. 1811
ink and watercolor on paper
British Museum

Mark Rothko
Untitled (Seagram Mural Project)
1959
oil on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Morton Bartlett
Painted Plaster Figure of Boy at the Beach
ca. 1950
gelatin silver print
(figure created by the photographer)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Della Robbia Workshop
St Sebastian
ca. 1500-1515
partly-enameled terracotta
Musée du Louvre

Thomas Rowlandson
Guildhall Association Volunteer
ca. 1798
ink and watercolor on paper
British Museum

Mark Rothko
Untitled
1957
oil and glue on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Morton Bartlett
Painted Plaster Figure of Girl
ca. 1950
gelatin silver print
(figure created by the photographer)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to Luca della Robbia
Virgin and Child
before 1482
painted marble relief
Musée du Louvre

Thomas Rowlandson
Portrait of artist George Morland
(friend of Rowlandson)
ca. 1798
ink and watercolor on paper
British Museum

Mark Rothko
No. 22
1961
mixed media on canvas
Buffalo AKG Art Museum, New York

Morton Bartlett
Painted Plaster Figure of Girl Reading
ca. 1950
gelatin silver print
(figure created by the photographer)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Girolamo della Robbia
Funeral Effigy of Catherine de' Medici
1565
marble
(intended for tomb but unfinished)
Musée du Louvre

Thomas Rowlandson
Robert Kennett
(executed for forgery)
1813
ink and watercolor on paper
British Museum

Mark Rothko
Untitled (Harvard Mural Sketch)
1962
mixed media on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Gold cut the knot of otherwise
infrangible virginity
when Zeus eluding brazen bars,
rained upon royal Danaë.

Interpreted?  Gold masters bronze,
rampart or chain: gold disallows
all locks & garters, smooths away
disdainful lines from haughty brows:

gold undid Danaë.  Take note,
lovers whom Beauty's ways abash:
worship Her not with hollow words
but full & faithful hearts.  And cash.

– from the Greek Anthology, translated by Andrew Miller