The Virgin Mother Photo

Photographer’s Note

A 35ft-tall,13-and-a-half-ton Damien Hirst statue revealing the insides of a pregnant woman, exhibited at Chatsworth House in the Sotheby's selling exhibition of monumental sculpture entitled 'Beyond Limits'.

Wow! is what you say when you first encounter this amazing piece of sculpture.As you can see from the shot, it is as tall as three stories of the House.

The bronze statue, recalling Edgar Degas's Little Dancer,and entitled 'The Virgin Mother' has layers removed on one side to reveal the foetus and the woman's skull, muscles and tissue.

Damien Hirst has made three of these sculptures.One version was made to stand in front of the Royal Academy in London.It took a year and a half to build, in 18 separate pieces.The statue could have been vulnerable to buckling at narrow points like the ankles, so a stainless steel structure was hidden inside to support the weight of the bronze.

Love it or not, it certainly gets people talking.
I had to take the shot from this particular side due to the position of the sun.

Thanks for looking, I am always grateful for any feedback.

Davids, dougie, elihesamian, crhieatt, eeedi, Felip has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dougie (2920) 2007-09-20 13:10

Hi Jean,
You.ve got a good angle on this one with a good play of light and shadow on the statue. The detailed background with all it's straight lines provides a contrast to the very un-straight lines on the sculpture. I'm not too fond of it myself but you've presented it very well. Good notes. Thanks.
Dougie.

elihesamian (26091) 2007-09-20 13:34

Hello Jean,
35ft-tall?!!!...oh !...I think your good upward angel and POv are a great point here for the photo,also you reached a nice contrast because of the good side light and background.
Well worked and captured with excellent sharpness and quality,Thanks for note,too.
Best Wishes
M

crhieatt (5145) 2007-09-23 5:04

Jean,
Interesting stuff - many thanks for the note, not heard of this before - of course, having read your description, I'm slightly dissapointed that we can't see "the inside" !

Really good quality capture too - the staute and background work well together and, despite both foreground and background being rendered in high detail, there is no "clash" of interests at all.

Regards
Colin

gunbud (27933) 2007-10-01 19:33

Hi Jean,
This is wonderful example of a modern subject done in a timeless style. You have capture its fine smooth lines and color that contast so beautifully with old brick building.
Regards, Tom

dorte_s_t (2285) 2007-10-05 7:16

Hi , Jean .
I think this sculpture is beautiful . I like the smooth surface and the dark colour which sets out the sculpture so well .
I used to work in the maternity , so of course I think this is a beautiful contribution to the miracle of life !
Very interesting note too !
Kindest regards
Dorte.

jdwyer264 (1082) 2007-10-10 0:39

Great shot Jean, I would have loved to attend this sculpture show. What a superb idea for a sculpture just like Damien's piece last year.
Would love to see more from the exhibition.

TFS

Felip (3905) 2008-05-05 10:14

Hi Jean,
Original sculpture, and very tall, I'm just wondering about in which basket team the kid inside her will play when he's 18 years old!
About the shot, very nice contrast and very good sharpened.
TFS

Regards

Felip