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Temple of Poseidon

Mary Peck

Artwork Details

Temple of Poseidon
1979; printed 1982
Mary Peck
gelatin silver print on paper
5 1/8 in x 4 3/16 in (13.02 cm x 10.64 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Ruttenberg through the courtesy of the Ruttenberg Arts Foundation
1984/2.58.1

On Display

Not currently on display

Description

Subject Matter:

This is a photograph of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, Greece; the first of eight photographs in Mary Peck’s portfolio, The Temples of Greece which is comprised of black-and-white photographs depicting dramatic Greek landscapes, each accented by ancient ruins. The rich tonal ranges in the prints reflect the majesty of the expansive scenes. As described in the introduction of the portfolio, in this photograph, “the promontory pushes out like an animal, the sea swims around it, the sky hovers, and the far-off island sails across the water in the sun sheen. The temple appears on the headland, a man-made embodiment of divinity; it sets the human scale of the god in relation to his presence in the natural forces.” -Vincent J. Scully, 1982

Physical Description:

This photograph depicts a temple atop a cliff; the rockface descends to water on the left. The sky is full of clouds, another land formation is visible in the distance.

Usage Rights:

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