Thomas Crawford / Genius of Mirth / 1842; this version, 1843

Thomas Crawford
Genius of Mirth
1842; this version, 1843
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Creator Name: Crawford, Thomas
Creator Role: Artist
Creator Dates/Places: ca. 1813-1857
Creator Name-CRT: Thomas Crawford
Title: Genius of Mirth
View: Full View
Creation Start Date: 1842
Creation End Date: 1842
Creation Date: 1842; this version, 1843
Object Type: Sculpture
Materials and Techniques: marble
Dimensions: 47 x 20 x 24 in. (119.4 x 50.8 x 61 cm)
AMICA Contributor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Owner Location: New York, New York, USA
ID Number: 97.13.1
Credit Line: Bequest of Annette W. W. Hicks-Lord, 1896
Rights: http://www.metmuseum.org/
Context:

While on a visit to Crawford's Roman studio in 1842, Henry Hicks of New York commissioned a piece of sculpture, leaving the subject entirely to the sculptor. Crawford's choice of a youthful dancer was almost certain to please his new patron, for images of children were popular in nineteenth-century art. Most likely inspired by a copy of the Hellenistic sculpture 'Dancing Faun,' Crawford completed this work in marble in Rome in 1843. He described this 'statue of Youth' as 'a boy of seven or eight years, dancing in great glee, and tinkling a pair of cymbals, the music of which seems to amuse him exceedingly. The sentiment is joyousness throughout. It is evident no thought of the future troubles his young mind: and he may consider himself very fortunate in being made of marble; for thus his youth remains without change.' Crawford first exhibited 'Genius of Mirth' at the National Academy of Design in New York in 1844. Hicks must have been satisfied with Crawford's production, for he subsequently purchased from him a second sculpture, 'Mexican Girl Dying,' also in the Metropolitan's collection (97.13.2a-e).

AMICA ID: MMA_.97.13.1
AMICA Library Year: 2000
Media Metadata Rights: Copyright The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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