Mephistopheles and Margaretta

Last updated

Mephistopheles and Margaretta
Scuola francese, mefistofele e margaretta, dal faust, 1890 ca. 02.jpg
Mephistopheles and Margaretta, with the reverse visible in a mirror
Medium Sycamore wood
SubjectCharacters from Goethe's Faust
Dimensions177.2 cm(69.8 in)
Location Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India

Mephistopheles and Margaretta is a 19th-century wooden double sculpture featuring two images carved on opposite sides; it portrays two characters from German playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 1808 play Faust . The obverse depicts the demon Mephistopheles, and the reverse depicts a woman, Margaretta (Margaret, or Gretchen). A mirror placed behind the sculpture allows both sides to be seen simultaneously.

Contents

Background

The statue reflects the themes of good and evil in Goethe's Faust . [1] In the play, Faust is frustrated with his life and attempts suicide. He calls for Satan's help, and the demon Mephistopheles, an agent of Satan, responds. Faust is told that Mephistopheles will serve him as long as he lives, but after his death, Faust would forfeit his soul and become enslaved forever. [2] He agrees, making a deal with the Devil, and as one of his requests for magic, Mephistopheles seduces a young woman named Gretchen (Margaretta) for Faust. She is impregnated by Faust and gives birth to his bastard son. Upon realizing the evil, Gretchen drowns her child and is subsequently imprisoned on charges of murder. She is ultimately hanged, but is granted entry into heaven; Faust is also saved by God because of Gretchen's pleadings. [2] Another literary text where the figures of Margaretta and Mephistopheles feature is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, which was written between 1928 and 1940, but not published until 1966. [3]

Sculpture

Full size of the sculpture Scuola francese, mefistofele e margaretta, dal faust, 1890 ca. 03.jpg
Full size of the sculpture

The 19th-century sculpture was created by an unknown French sculptor, carved into a block of sycamore wood. [4] The obverse is a depiction of a confident and arrogant Mephistopheles, [5] wearing a hood and boots, and with a smirk on his face. [6] On the reverse side, Gretchen is depicted with her head bowed, [5] appearing as a simple girl with downcast eyes. [1] [6]

The statue is carved from a single block of wood and is exhibited with a mirror placed behind it, allowing viewers to observe both sides at the same time. [7] The dichotomy of good and evil is emphasized by the innocence of the female figure, a demure woman holding a prayer book in her hand, contrasting with the depiction of evil exemplified by Mephistopheles. [1] [4]

One of the major attractions of the Museum's European Art Section, the dimensions of the statue is 177.2 cm, and it was presumably created in the late 19th century, in France. The sculpture represents the thin line that exists between the duplicity of good and evil as represented by Margaretta and Mephistopheles, respectively. The male image stands proud in a hooded cloak, heeled boots and has a long, gaunt face with a cynical smile, while Margaretta is shown as a shy, girl with a prayer book in her hand, and downcast eyes, lost in love. [8]

The statue was acquired by the former Prime Minister of Hyderabad Salar Jung I; he acquired it in 1876 during his travels in France. It is one of the most photographed images of the museum. [3] The sculpture now resides in the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, India. [7] The museum is one of the most visited in the country, and claims one million visitors annually. [7]

While the identity of the sculptor of this romantic sculpture remains unknown, the choice of such a German archetype for a French statue reveals how post-1870, there was a surging interest in things German and topics in countries like France, etc. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faust</span> Protagonist of a classic German legend

Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust.

<i>La damnation de Faust</i> Opera by Hector Berlioz

La damnation de Faust, Op. 24 is a work for four solo voices, full seven-part chorus, large children's chorus and orchestra by the French composer Hector Berlioz. He called it a "légende dramatique". It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 6 December 1846.

Goethes <i>Faust</i> Play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Faust is a tragic play in two parts by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, usually known in English as Faust, Part One and Faust, Part Two. Nearly all of Part One and the majority of Part Two are written in rhymed verse. Although rarely staged in its entirety, it is the play with the largest audience numbers on German-language stages. Faust is considered by many to be Goethe's magnum opus and the greatest work of German literature.

<i>Faust</i> (opera) Grand opera in five acts by Charles Gounod

Faust is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part One. It debuted at the Théâtre Lyrique on the Boulevard du Temple in Paris on 19 March 1859, with influential sets designed by Charles-Antoine Cambon and Joseph Thierry, Jean Émile Daran, Édouard Desplechin, and Philippe Chaperon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salar Jung Museum</span> Art Museum in Hyderabad, Telangana, India

The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Dar-ul-Shifa, on the southern bank of the Musi River in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the notable National Museums of India. Originally a private art collection of the Salar Jung family, it was endowed to the nation after the death of Salar Jung III. It was inaugurated on 16 December 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woland</span> Fictional character in a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov

Woland is a fictional character in the novel The Master and Margarita by the Russian (Soviet) author Mikhail Bulgakov, written between 1928 and 1940. Woland is the mysterious foreigner and professor whose visit to Moscow sets the plot rolling and turns the world upside-down.

<i>Faust, Part Two</i> Second part of the tragic play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Faust: The Second Part of the Tragedy is the second part of the tragic play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It was published in 1832, the year of Goethe's death.

A Faust Symphony in three character pictures, S.108, or simply the "Faust Symphony", is a choral symphony written by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's drama, Faust. The symphony was premiered in Weimar on 5 September 1857, for the inauguration of the Goethe–Schiller Monument there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I</span> Prime Minister of Hyderabad (1829–1883)

Sir Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I,, known simply as Salar Jung I, was an Indian nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Hyderabad State between 1853 until his death in 1883. He also served as regent for the sixth Nizam, Asaf Jah VI between 1869 and 1883.

<i>Faust, Part One</i> First part of the tragic play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Faust: A Tragedy is the first part of the tragic play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and is considered by many as the greatest work of German literature. It was first published in 1808.

Faust has inspired artistic and cultural works for over four centuries. The following lists cover various media to include items of historic interest, enduring works of high art, and recent representations in popular culture. The entries represent works that a reader has a reasonable chance of encountering rather than a complete catalog.

<i>Veiled Rebecca</i> 1863 sculpture by Giovanni Maria Benzoni

The Veiled Rebecca or The Veiled Rebekah is a 19th century sculpture carved out of marble in Italian neoclassical style by the sculptor Giovanni Maria Benzoni.The sculpture is also referred as The Veiled Lady in several records. It depicts a biblical figure of Rebecca placed on a marble pedestal.

<i>Scenes from Goethes Faust</i> Musico-theatrical work by Robert Schumann

Scenes from Goethe's Faust is a musical-theatrical work by composer Robert Schumann. The work has been described as the height of his accomplishments in the realm of dramatic music. The work was written between 1844 and 1853 and is scored for SATB chorus, boys' chorus, orchestra, and a number of solo parts which, even with doubling, require seven solo singers, although eight is the usual number for a performance. Schumann never saw all three parts of the work performed in the same concert, or published together. Eric Sams comments 'There is no coherence in the orchestration, which audibly dates from two different periods ', leading him to conclude that Schumann did not conceive the work as a whole, although late nineteenth-century ideas of performance mean that in the modern era the piece is predominantly heard with all three parts.

This article lists cultural references to Mephistopheles, the fictional devil from Faust and Doctor Faustus who has been used in other pieces of literature, film, comics and music.

<i>Faust</i> (paintings) Series of paintings by Nabil Kanso

Faust is a series of approximately 100 paintings created between 1976 and 1979 by Nabil Kanso. The paintings depict figural compositions in a sequence of scenes whose subjects are loosely based on Goethe’s 1808 play Faust Part One and Part Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deals with the Devil in popular culture</span>

The idea of making a deal with the devil has appeared many times in works of popular culture. These pacts with the Devil can be found in many genres, including: books, music, comics, theater, movies, TV shows and games. When it comes to making a contract with the Devil, they all share the same prevailing desire, a mortal wants some worldly good for their own selfish gain, but in exchange, they must give up their soul for eternity.

<i>Le génie du mal</i> Religious sculpture by Guillaume Geefs

Le génie du mal, known informally in English as Lucifer or The Lucifer of Liège is a religious sculpture executed in white marble and installed in 1848 by the Belgian artist Guillaume Geefs. Francophone art historians often refer to the figure as an ange déchu, a "fallen angel".

<i>Faust</i> (2011 film) 2011 Russian film

Faust is a 2011 Russian film directed by Alexander Sokurov. Set in the 19th century, it is a free interpretation of the Faust legend and its respective literary adaptations by both Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1808) as well as Thomas Mann. The dialogue is in German. The film won the Golden Lion at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. At the 2012 Russian Guild of Film Critics Awards the film was awarded the prizes for Best Film, Best Director, Best Script and Best Male Supporting Actor. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>The Last Faust</i> Film by Philipp Humm

The Last Faust is a 2019 feature art film written and directed by the German artist Philipp Humm. Set in 2059, it is a contemporary interpretation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 1808 Faust and the first film directly based on both parts of the tragedy. It stars English actors Steven Berkoff and, Martin Hancock (Faust). Its music is based on Richard Wagner with tracks from Swiss electronic music duo Yello.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Double Statue of Mephistopheles & Margaretta : Salar Jung Museum". The Heritage Lab. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1985). Faust, part I (Rev. ed.). New York: Bantam Books. pp. 1–433. ISBN   978-0-553-21348-5. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Lab, The Heritage (18 December 2016). "The Double Statue of Mephistopheles & Margaretta : Salar Jung Museum". The Heritage Lab. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 Sripada, Krishna (31 August 2017). "An all-season destination". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 Stewart, Jessica (6 November 2019). "This 19th-Century "Double Sculpture" Tells a Tale of Two Different People on Back and Front". My Modern Met. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 Haseeb, Ahssanuddin (27 February 2019). "A Virtual Tour With A Difference Of 'Salarjung Museum' In Hyderabad". Hyderabad News. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 Srinivas, Susheela (2 March 2019). "Mystical masterpieces". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ↑ Salar Jung Museum (2014). Treasures : Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. National Culture Fund. New Delhi. ISBN   978-93-83098-26-2. OCLC   871215664.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.