16. Faust and Mephisto [1925-1930]

Originally from Znaim, Czech Republic, Ion Faur Schmidt studied in Vienna and arrived in Romania in 1901 as a teacher at the School of Arts and Crafts in Targu-Jiu. His wish was to establish the first ceramics school in our country. He will then move to the same teaching position in Bucharest and will work tirelessly. He creates busts after the personalities of the time or after important personalities of our history (Eminescu, Papiu-Ilarian, Spiru Haret, Gheorghe Șincai), he also approaches the fairy tale world (Prince Charming, the Zmeu, Ileana-Cosânzeana), he also creates works with allegorical themes ('Pain', 'The Parasite') but also sculpts children's heads or the delicate bodies of nymphs. In 1922, following his participation in a competition to create a work honouring the memory of the heroes of the air, his model was awarded first prize and his talent was noticed by the honorary president of the jury - Prince Charles, heir to the throne. As mentioned, among the artist's favourite themes are those of literary inspiration, so a subject such as the monumental Faust legend will naturally appear in his work. Faust is none other than the protagonist of the German legend, a character inspired by the real personality of Johann Georg Faust. Although he has a successful career, the erudite Faust is dissatisfied with his existence, which leads to a pact with the devil - Faust will offer his soul in exchange for absolute knowledge and all worldly pleasures. His attempt to make sense of life and to understand human nature and the course of the universe would be translated into a long series of more or less prolific events. The fallen angel, Mephisto, who is already trapped in hell and serves Lucifer, will, as a result of this pact, begin to be at Faust's disposal for a pre-defined period of time, at the end of which the devil will appropriate his part of the deal and assimilate Faust's soul. Taking advantage of his magical powers, Mephisto will grant his new master every wish and guide him on his way to discovering human pleasures. The theme will be repeated over time and will come to take different forms: from legends, plays or stories to film adaptations, opera or theatre performances to paintings, drawings (Eugène Delacroix) or sculptures. In literature, we find Faust in Christopher Marlowe's 'The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus' (1604), Goethe (1808), Shakespeare (in 'The Merry Wives of Winsdor'), Thomas Mann, Fernando Pessoa or Paul Valéry.

Literatura

REZEANU, Paul, 'Istoria Artelor Plastice în Oltenia (1800-2000)' ('History of Fine Arts in Oltenia (1800-2000)'), Vol. I (1800-1918), Alma Publishing House, Craiova, 2010.

Dimenzije

depth 30 cm, width 43 cm, height 31 cm

Opis

bronze, signed on the base, by incision, 'I. Schmidt'

Izlasci

1925-1930

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