Medea
Sculpture, full-length free-standing figure • William Wetmore Story (American, 1819–1895)
Style & Movement
Neoclassicism
Medium & Technique
White Carrara marble; carved with subtractive techniques achieving varied textures from polished skin to matte drapery
Creation Period
1865; carved in 1868
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 77 1/2 x 27 x 25 inches (196.9 x 68.6 x 63.5 cm); vertical portrait format
Subject Description
The mythological figure Medea is depicted in a moment of intense psychological conflict before murdering her children to avenge her husband Jason's betrayal. She wears a classical Greek chiton and palla, holding a dagger in one hand while the other rests thoughtfully against her chin. Her expression is one of brooding, tragic determination.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved within a museum environment with minor surface accumulation and typical stone veining.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500,000 - $2,500,000 (Valuation based on the artist's historical significance and the rarity of large-scale marble masterworks of this caliber)
Auction Estimate
$1,200,000 - $1,800,000
Provenance History
Purchased from the artist by Henry Chauncey in 1868; Gift of Henry Chauncey to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1894.
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece of 19th-century American Neoclassicism, Story's Medea reflects the Victorian fascination with complex, tragic heroines. It is a companion piece to his 'Cleopatra' and solidifies Story's transition from lawyer to a leading expatriate sculptor in Rome. It represents the height of the 'White Marmorean Flock' style.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature and date 'W.W. Story Roma 1868' on the base. The contrast between the cold marble and the heat of the narrative subject is a hallmark of Story's 'intellectual' sculpture.
Condition Issues
Potential micro-fractures common in old Carrara marble and minor surface dirt in deeper recesses of the drapery; however, no significant losses or repairs are visible.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable relative humidity and temperature; periodic professional cleaning with deionized water; avoid tactile contact from the public to prevent oil transfer.
Collector Notes
New York