Hiram Powers

The leading American neoclassical sculptor working in Florence, Italy, Powers specialized in subjects from history, mythology, and religion. At a time when American collectors were uncomfortable with representations of the nude, his idealized figures represented the spiritual beauty of the “unveiled soul.”

Powers offered patrons the choice of various versions of his sculptures, from full-size figures to bust-length editions, such as Eve Disconsolate. To meet demand, he worked from plaster models, using measuring devices to make copies and employing studio assistants to execute the carving. His hallmark was a special finishing process applied to fine-grained Seravezza marble to suggest the luminosity and softness of human flesh.