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Lying
in a reflective pool of water in front of a tumultuous background,
a broken sculpture is dramatically lit. The serenity of the idol’s
expression and the seeming permanence of the stone structures
contrast poignantly with the harsh surroundings.
The
mood thus created shows that the Romantic style (1830-1870) influenced
Catherwood. Emotion and dramatic coloring are typical of this
period. Similarly La Jeune Martyre (The Young Martyr) by Paul
Delaroche (1855) presents a peaceful figure; a victim of her surroundings,
caught in a storm, she seems to endure with resolve. This same
feeling is reflected in Catherwood’s depiction of the broken
stele.
Catherwood
studied architecture at the Royal Academy in London; he also traveled
to Rome, Greece, and Egypt illustrating ruins that were well-known
to the Western world. Stephens claimed that “It [the stele]
is equal to the best remains of Egyptian art.” When rediscovered
by Stephens and Catherwood, these treasured remains had been damaged
and hidden by the jungle, providing a powerful parallel to the
once vibrant ancient Maya. [Spanish
version].
SHU LIU and DANIELLE GROGAN |
