Collections: American Art: The Greek Slave

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The Greek Slave

Hiram Powers was part of a large community of expatriate American sculptors who lived in Italy in order to obtain the training, materials, and assistants necessary to create monumental Neoclassical sculpture in marble. This work, the last of six versions Powers made (the first version dates from 1841–47), represents the plight of Greek women who were enslaved during their war of independence with the Turks (1821–30). The image of a naked, manacled woman took on added significance in antebellum America, where it came to be associated with this nation's enslaved blacks. When it was exhibited, The Greek Slave attracted large audiences and elicited impassioned commentary from priests, critics, and others sympathetic to the abolitionist cause. For example, one reporter for an antislavery newspaper wrote: "As this elegant statue traverses the land, may many … be awakened to a sense of the enormity of slavery.… Waste not your sympathies on the senseless marble, but reserve some tears for the helpless humanity that lies quivering beneath the lash of American freemen!"


• Artist: Hiram S. Powers, American, 1805-1873
• Medium: Marble
• Dates: 1869
• Dimensions: Statue: 65 1/2 x 19 1/4 x 18 3/4 in. (166.4 x 48.9 x 47.6 cm) Height of pedestal: 30 1/4 in. (76.8 cm)
• Signature: Incised along edge of base behind post: "H POWERS / [in script] Sculp"
• Collections: American Art
• Museum Location: This item is on view in American Identities: A New Look, Everyday Life/A Nation Divided, 5th Floor
• Accession Number: 55.14
• Credit Line: Gift of Charles F. Bound
• Image: Installation, 55.14_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Hiram S. Powers (American, 1805-1873). The Greek Slave, 1869. Marble, Statue: 65 1/2 x 19 1/4 x 18 3/4 in. (166.4 x 48.9 x 47.6 cm) Height of pedestal: 30 1/4 in. (76.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Charles F. Bound, 55.14 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.14_SL1.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Life-size figure of idealized nude female standing in contrapposto pose on round base; head turned to left and slightly downward; hands bound together with chains with proper left hand over genitalia and proper right hand leaning on post draped with patterned cloth. Condition: Good.