World's Ugliest Sculpture ?

[mountshang]

Just saw a photo of this one in the NYT -- originally made in 1920, it's recently been moved to the Capitol Rotunda in honor of its subject matter.



http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/rotunda/suffrage_1.cfm


Apparently, it's been given the nickname "Three Women in a Tub"

So what do you think ?

Is it the world's ugliest sculpture ? or ... just 80 years ahead of its time ?

[fritchie]

I don't find it a bad piece at all. I see it's by a female carver. I'd like to see more detail in fact, but the purpose of these articles mainly is to create controversy and sell papers, so they aren't going to waste more resources than necessary. (Getting to be a media cynic these days!)

I do think the double base is overly large for the piece, but that may be to keep visitors from touching or possibly damaging it. (Added in edit: I see from the article this has been in the rotunda since 1996, substantiating my opinion about the article.)

[evaldart]

Those three little heads can't compete with the monolith below them. Bad decision to cut the portraits out of the very rock that is also the base/footing/riser etc. Coceptually flawed.

[StevenW]

It bothers me to no end the small size of images on the web. High speed, huge hard drives dirt cheap and all I can see is Abraham Lincoln with two women stuck in a Maytag. Looks like a lot of work that just ran out of steam, seen it happen a lot. I bet if I could see any detail it would probably look a little better..

[Aaron Schroeder]

I agree about the image size limitation. Bad work almost always looks better when it takes up the full screen. Is a community Flickr account an option? Could we all share a user ID and password ? Or would there be IP problems ?
What stands in the way of bigger pictures ? Money? How Much ? We must be able to post bigger images.

That's my sense of entitelment speaking.

[Multi_Pass]

Ab Lincoln, lol. I did a google search and found another view that you can make larger.

Hope I can post it. :/

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/ppmsc/00000/00029r.jpg

Or just do a google image search on "Adelaide Johnson marble" and check out the first picture. Still not a detailed view though.

It does look to me to be a sculpture that ran out of steam. Looks like maybe she was planning on having a fourth figure in the back and just couldn't finish it and did the best she could with what she was able to manage. Even as it is now, I'm failing to see how it's at all ugly and more importantly how it could possibly be the world's ugliest sculpture. I've seen far worse in museums.

[furby]

there's hundreds if not thousands of far uglier sculptures around... this ones just boring.

[Merlion]

I agree the sculptor was probably planning to carve a 4th bust at the back, but for some reason did not start on it.

I also agree, it is not that the sculpture is ugly, but that it is boring.

[mountshang]

Originally Posted by Multi_Pass

Even as it is now, I'm failing to see how it's at all ugly and more importantly how it could possibly be the world's ugliest sculpture. I've seen far worse in museums.

I know I'll regret this, but ......................



If any of you have seen uglier statues in museums or famous public places -- could you show us a link ?

[jOe~]

I know I'll regret this, but ......................
If any of you have seen uglier statues in museums or famous public places -- could you show us a link ?

What is your motive? I've seen plenty that cause me to instantly look away . Why discuss something that makes me want to gag? Let those that enjoy it have their fun. Is there something constructive in bashing someones efforts or what others value? Feelings of superiority and moral authority appeal to small minds.

[mollycarpenter]

Originally Posted by StevenW

It bothers me to no end the small size of images on the web. High speed, huge hard drives dirt cheap and all I can see is Abraham Lincoln with two women stuck in a Maytag. Looks like a lot of work that just ran out of steam, seen it happen a lot. I bet if I could see any detail it would probably look a little better..

Hahahaha!!! A Maytag a hot tub...hahaha!!!!
Hahaha!
Heh heh- and given who they were...*dabs eyes* whew!
My apologies to the sculptress. I'm sure much of my stuff gets laughs too...