Saturday, March 10, 2012

Indian warfare

Erastus Dow Palmer created a marble sculpture of an Indian princess in 1856 -- her hand outstretched, holding a crucifix, symbolic of her acceptance of the Christian world. He titled it, "The Dawn of Christianity." What do we think about such images today? Have Native Americans changed the way we look at this kind of art? More thoughts on these words and images from the Albany Institute of History and Art, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Forlorn

Was it your fate
indeed to look so modestly,
flung with deerskin drape
your princess' shape all but
shriving fools who told you,
look on this -- and learn --
when all around you nature burned
with wisdom purely and conspired
to teach you better?
How could you not have wondered --
is this a dagger I see,
a jewel? What matter
of metal, what art?
Copyright (c) 2012 Amy Nelson Hahn

view with images 3331 and 3343  from photos.amynelsonhahn.info or visit blog.amynelsonhahn.info

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