Comparing of two pieces of art

Introduction Throughout the ages, difference in culture has produced varied art and architecture. Art forms produced in different ages have shown different elements of mythological and religious significance, which can be understood only in context of the particular culture. This essay is an effort to compare and contrast two pieces of art, exhibited in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Comparing of two pieces of art specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two pieces of art selected for comparison are Seated Sekhmet, which is an Egyptian sculpture from the New Kingdom Dynasty dated 1309-1352 BC and the other is Statue of Athena Parthenon (the Virgin Goddess) a sculpture made in the Roman Imperial period in the 2nd or 3rd CE. The first is an enthroned figure of a woman with the head of a lioness, seated on a square seat, the second is a marble replica of the original statue made in gold, and ivory statue sculpted by the Roman master sculptor Phidias. The essay begins with a description of the two art pieces and then moves on to a more formal description of the style and make of the sculptures. The paper then describes what these two statues stand for and the subject matter that they exude. In the second part of the essay, the paper discusses the meaning and function of the sculptures. Formal Analysis This section presents a detailed description of the two sculptures studied in the paper. The first is a hard sculpture etched in stone of the lion headed Egyptian goddess Sekhmet from the Karnak temple. The sculpture depicts the body of a woman mounted with a head of a lioness, and seated on a square stone throne. The statue is made in granite. The statue was found in the temple of Mut at Karnak, made during 1391-1352 BCE. The height of the sculpture is 49 13/16† high x 21† wide x 26  ¼Ã¢â‚¬  deep (Pinch 134). It is located in the second floor of t he Egyptian and Nubian gallery in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The goddess has small eyes, which are intense and prominent jawline. The facial features of the statue emanate an aura of violence. This is one of the 730 statues found in the Mut temple at Karnak, Egypt. The statue was made during the reign of king Amenhotep III. This is a litany in stone, especially made in granite.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The surface of the statue is clean and gleams of the granite stone with which it is made of and despite the weathering due to centuries of exposure to the arid nature, it still hold intact the details of the sculpture. The head of the goddess is crowned with a headdress, which is probably made of some other material, which is presently missing from the sculpture. The head of the lioness shows detailed carvings with the whiskers and ruffs. The eye of the sculptu re and the muzzle too are clearly visible. Decorative band is visible of the garment of the sculpture and recognizable just below the breast. Both the forearms show considerable wear and tear, especially the right hand. The left hand holds the ankh, which is placed on the left knee of the goddess. The close knitted dress is sculpted until the nape of her ankle and the hem of the garment is etched with horizontal lines. The goddess is seated on a throne that has black, non-inscribed pillars, which run just above her head. However, the lower vertical bars next to the leg of the goddess have hieroglyphic inscriptions. The bars on the goddess’s right side reads from right to left and vice versa on the left side. The inscriptions describe the goddess and her relation to other deities. The second statue is that of Athena Parthenon, the virgin goddess, placed in the MFA at Boston. The statue is made of stone and bronze. The technique used for building the sculpture is marble from Mt . Penetelikon near Athens. Overall, the statue is 154 cm and weighs 232.7 kg (60 5/8 in., 513 lb.). The statue is mounted on a concrete base of 3 3/8† deep. The statue is a replica made during the Roman period. The original is a statue in gold and ivory statue was originally kept in the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropilis made in 438 BC by master sculptor Phidias (Pinch 186). The sculpture shows the goddess wearing a helmet, which is flanked with sphinx on either side of the head of the goddess. The visors have visors on either side, which are probably deer. Griffins adorn the cheek pieces of he statue. The either side of the face of the goddess is delicate curls falling gracefully on her shoulders. Gorgon aegis adorned on the chest of the goddess is edged with snakes (Pinch 187). There are snakes that encircle her wrists and form a knot at the center (Pinch 186). The statue was made of a heavy marble, however, the neck and the head of the statue was made of a lighter marble ( Pinch 186).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Comparing of two pieces of art specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The joints are secured by the curls that adorn right above their right shoulders, and even the hair on the back of the figure. Some parts of the figure had been restored. The restored portions of the statue are a small part of the left eyelid, the nose tip of the goddess, and her left nostril (Pinch 186). The body of the sculpture has remained intact, and no restoration work was necessary in it. The troughs in the arms showed ancient iron pegs, which were used to hold the weight of the colossal marble figure (Pinch 186). The goddess is adorned in exquisitely carved marble dress that drapes, with minute and extensive folds to the ground. Only a partial right foot is visible through the heavy drape of the goddess’s dress. Both the figures studied show a completely different physical appearanc e, make, style, and appearance. This section presented the physical description of the two sculptures. The next section will demonstrate the specialty and substance of the sculptures. Subject Matter This section discusses the subject matter of the two statues i.e. it delineates what the statues actually depict, what is the relevance of the two subjects to the religious and cultural beliefs of the two civilizations. The first statue discussed is that of Sekhmet. The statue shows a popularly known figure of the goddess with her head of a lioness. Sekhmet is a solar goddess who is known to be very aggressive (Pinch 187). Pinch describes Sekhmet as the goddess of destruction who is believed to have descended to earth as the Eye of Ra when death first came to earth (187). She was sent to punish the rebellious humans, and she is believed to have destroyed the whole of humanity. The visual imagery of the figure is that embodies destruction and divinity. The image is appropriate of that of a goddess that embodies a blazing sun and who would destroy all evil with her divine powers (187). Further, the goddess is also linked with disease and pestilences (188). She is the goddess of curing diseases. The meaning of the name of the goddess is â€Å"the powerful one† which also depicts the nature of belief surrounding her (Scott 224). Sekhmet is the goddess of Ptah, the god who created ancient Memphis. Sekhmet is associated with goddess Mut, the consort of Amun god and the major seat of the god is centered in the Mut temple in Karnak (Scott 224).Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ideally, this could have been a parallelism between the Upper and Lower Egypt. The creator god Ptah and his consort Sekhmet reined over the lower Egyptians (187). In the Pyramid text, Sekhmet is called the â€Å"parent of the king when he was reborn† (188). This remake of the Athena Parthenon made by Phidias, is different in its make and technique from the original figure. This is a Roman copy and a fine specimen of the Roman art. The goddess as depicted by the Greeks, etched in gold and ivory was a gleaming representation of religious ritual. Instead, in her new incarnation in marble she stands as a personification of wisdom. She embodies the intellectual activity of the Romans (Platt 171). In the original model, Athena is stood tall and grandiosely, holding a Parthenon around her (Kleiner 136). Athena is in her full armor and shield, and helmet. However, the roman replica of the Athena, is made with Hellenistic inspiration. The figure became a symbol of literary productions of the time, instead of the traditional religious rites. The figure has a somberness that can be associated with the library exuding of academic qualities instead of a ritualistic celebration of the divine. Thus, this figure is important in its secular representation from the religious depiction observed in the Grecian figure. The marble figure’s stress was not on ritual activity. It figures neither did invoke authority, as did the Athenian model made by the Greeks. Meaning and Function of the Objects Traditionally, the first object, the Seated Sekhmet is a statue used for religious rites, enshrined in a temple of worship. Sekhmet was a revered goddess of the Egyptians, and was worshiped as a goddess of destruction and as one who could cure ailments. On the other hand, the marble figure of Athena made in the Roman tradition is a secular figure, epitomizing knowledge and wisdom. The roman figure is a deliberate attempt to disassociate Athena from her religious significance as demonstrated in its original version made by Phidias. Therefore, there was a clear shift in the religious depiction of Phidas and move towards an emphasis of wisdom and turning the goddess into a national symbol (Moore 89). A comparison of both the exhibits studied in the paper shows that these two figures were installed with two different perspectives – the first Egyptian statue is that of a religious figure, installed in a temple to evoke fear and reverence. The second, on the other hand, is also of a goddess but depicted as cultural rather than a religious figure. The first statue was probably worshiped at the temple, while the second stood as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge in a library enclosure. The difference in the cultural depiction of religiosity in the different ages and cultures is clearly delineable through the two sculptures. Works Cited Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. P rint. Moore, Albert C. Iconography of Religions: An Introduction. Philadelphia: Fotress Press, 1977. Print. Pinch, Geraldine. Handbook of Egyptian Mythology. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO , 2004. Print. Platt, Verity Jane. Facing the Gods: Epiphany and Representation in Graeco-Roman Art, Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , 2011. Print. Scott, Gerry D. â€Å"A Seated Statue of Sekhmet and Two Related Sculptures.† D’Auria, Sue. Servant of Mut: Studies in Honor of Richard A. Fazzini. Leiden: BRILL, 2007. 223-234. Print. This research paper on Comparing of two pieces of art was written and submitted by user Matilda Flores to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives Introduction In comparing and contrasting  two house  of representative members in the state of Pennsylvania, there are two members whose contributions to their respective districts and to the  state  are significant. Thompson Glen and Mike Kelly have the experience to work with people across all age groups and gender.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on United States House of Representatives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this regard, they  strive  to  improve  economic  growth through formulation of policies and implementation of programs to this regard. They have developed various approaches in their service to the people.  Like their counterparts in the House of Representatives,  they have experiences and their share of criticism. But,  that has not deterred their commitment to serve the people of Pennsylvania. Personal backgrounds and Districts Mike Kelly is the  U.S  representative for  Pennsylvania’s third District. Mike is sixty three years old, a former Butler City Council member. He attended University of Notre Dame on a football scholarship but left because of injury (Cabalena). A car dealer by profession, he is a newcomer elected on the republican platform. Kelly Mike committees’ projects include  Education and the Workforce, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform. Thompson Glen, who is fifty two years old, is also a republican representing the fifth district in his second term in office. Thompson attended both Pennsylvania State University and Temple University. Thompson Glen is involved with Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, and the Natural Resources committee (Cabalena). Thompson Glen has the reputation of a hardworking representative and a down-to-earth lawmaker.  Thompson  represents the largest  district  in Pennsylvania, the 5th Congressional District. As noted in Centre For Responsive Politics, it has a population of 646,397 where 96.5%  of this are whites, 1.1% are Asian  0.8%, Hispanic 1.3% Black and 0.2% are Native Americans (Centre For Responsive Politics). Its Median income is $33,254.In 2010, Thompson won the elections gaining 125,740 votes 68.6 % of the total 182,972 votes. His victory is attributed to the grassroots campaigns. On the other hand, Mike is a newcomer as the 3rd district representative which has a population of 646,311. This represented as 94.4% are white, 0.5% are Asian, 3.5% Black, 1.3% Hispanic, 0.1% are Native Americans and 0.1% others. Its Median income is $35,884. Mike gained 109,909 votes which was 55.7% of all votes against Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper in the 2010 elections (Politicians and Elections).Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The 3rd district has an approximately 88% high school graduates, while for Bachelor’s degree or higher graduates range around 26% as the 5th district high school drops out is around 15% making graduates range at around 85%, for Bachelor’s degree is around 19% (Centre For Responsive Politics). Legislation and Responsibilities Mike has sponsored these legislation among others: State and Local Funding Flexibility Act, Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act, Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act, Family Health Care Accessibility Act of 2011, Congressional Retirement Age Act of 2011, Congressional Retirement Age Act of 2011, Referred to House committee, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. While Thompson sponsored bills like Educating Entrepreneurs through Todays Technology Act, Tax Relief Certainty Act, Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, Amendment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to modify special rules relating to coverage of abortion services under such Act. Unlike Mike Kelly who is a  newcomer, Thompson Glen won h is second two-year  term  with 68 percent of the vote.  In his first term he voted 93percent with his republican party but he voted with Democrats on several  issues, like children’s health insurance  reauthorization, federally funded community service and volunteer programs. This has brought criticism on him from his party members. With his background as a therapist, he believes health care  should  be expanded for veterans and service members. He proposed an amendment on health policy to aid  medical providers to provide and treat patients using the telephone and the internet. According to the Centre For Responsive Politics, Mike Kelly is serving in his first term. He is a strong advocate  of government, cutting cost on its spending by removing duplicate programs, which are not necessary. In doing so, the committee on Government Oversight and Government Reform Committee which he serves on have not been spared from criticism (Centre For Responsive Politics) . His background as a businessman plays a  major  role in his contributions in the lower chamber to advocate for  practical ways  of budgeting in an effort to reduce taxpayers’ burden. Although most newcomers to the political arena are assigned to serve in two committees, he serves in three of them. In comparing and contrasting the roles of these two representatives, it is  important  to identify  theirAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on United States House of Representatives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Values, and beliefs on different issues that include education, job creation, trade, natural resources and government spending. In addition, they have the duty to  understand  the roles they play to represent the people of Pennsylvania in the representative committees they serve  in. Thompson Glen and Mike Kelly on Issues Both have had a lot of experiences working with youth in the Pennsy lvania state despite, their ages in the attempt to reach out to all their constituents.  Thompson’s appointment  to the House Committee on Education and Workforce in 2008 was as a result of his experience to work with young people.  Previously, he served as a member of the Bald Eagle Area School Board as well as a past vice-chair of the private industry council of the Central Corridor, a volunteer fire fighter and as a scoutmaster. As noted by US Census Bureau, Thompson has been  at  the forefront advocating for students’ education as a future investment (US Census Bureau).  He serves on the Higher Education committee and a  vigorous  supporter of  inclusive education that advocates  the pursuit for both science and arts. In the lower chamber  he has been aggressively advocating for a sustainable economic growth and job creation (US Census Bureau). Therefore, the nation should focus on retooling the education system towards a positive transition t o the workforce.  Thompson also supports school voucher system that allows parents or guardians to send their children to any schools. Thompson, like Kelly, believes that the federal government  has  a significant role to play in not only policies but also public education funding and other program. U.S. Representative Mike Kelly is also  very  vocal on the importance of education for all including funding both urban and rural school districts. His funding formula by the federal government  which should be inclusive, away from the current structures  that advocate funding for largest school districts and instead, redirect resources to smaller  urban  and rural  district schools to improve education, especially, for disadvantaged students. Job Creation and Trade As a businessman, Kelly’s concerns on cutting  jobs  are justified. Trade polices should impact positively on the  ability  for American businessmen to  compete in the global  market   with other international trading partners. According to Centre For Responsive Politics, Mike Kelly as the vice-Chair of  the  House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the  Pacific,  is mandated to spearhead policy formulation (Centre For Responsive Politics). These include focusing on trade and security-related policies that impact on U.S. and the region including the Asia-Pacific region.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It includes the enforcement of  good  global partnership.  In the efforts to  advance  stability and security throughout the region,  there is greater access,  meaning  job creation and increased exports. They both attempt to overcome economic challenges that throughout history have been contributing factors that have continued to  compromise  the nation’s future. This is through formulation of policies and programs that  encourage  job creation a  major  factor to economical growth. Natural Resources According to both Thompson and Kelly, improving existing natural resources an  important  feature. Simply, because in Pennsylvania has a history with management and conservation of its natural resources, which is a  crucial aspect to its growth.  These natural resources  include  the Allegheny National Forest; Pennsylvania’s only national forest, the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Play and agriculture (Pennsylvania Politics). Although Kelly has voted with his Republican  party  on many issues on energy and agriculture, they have proved  productive  and to the  advantage  of his own state. Although, they both serve in different committees they share a sense of commitment to serve the state of Pennsylvania, and have been very vocal on issues in the lower chamber. According to US Census Bureau Congressman Thompson has over three decades of experience as a community leader this has been instrumental in his contribution to the agriculture committee which Pennsylvania is  very  significant  to the rural industry. Its jurisdiction is over agriculture-related fields that  include forestry, resource and water conservation, agriculture and nutrition (US Census Bureau). Pennsylvania has a long history with the timber industry; therefore, need  to identify proper timber harvesting  mechanisms  that recognize water and resource conservation. Glen’s office has been instrumental in obtaining loa ns and grants for the community by working with the constituents, community based organizations and the local governments. He believes in supporting appropriate legislation which is responsible for the  expansion  of alternative and renewable forms of energy, increase conservation  to increase energy efficiency and  supply  as a way of saving the  consumer  both money energy. On the contrary,  Kelly believes the solution to  the energy  dependence is for congress to put in place policies that  encourage  the development  of natural gas and coal.  Another way is also to  concentrate  on emerging industries, like the shale industry to provide affordable energy to all citizens. Government spending Most freshmen  Congressmen assignments to committees involve serving on  the third committee of Government Oversight and Government Reform Committee. They have strong belief in the need for  the government  to reduce spending. This committee has been ac cused of duplicating programs that contribute to wasting taxpayers’  money,  who are already  overstretched. In reversing the accumulated staggering national debt, the United States good business sense is required.  To create  employment, a conducive entrepreneur’s environment is  necessary. Glen’s approach is to give  every opportunity for  effective  and healthy competition in the work. Contributors and the Role of the Media The top contributors in Mike Kelly’s campaign include Honey International, National Community Action Foundation, Alpha Natural Resources, and Automotive Free International Trade PAC. Glen Thompson’s received 68 percent ($165,403) of his contributions from individuals; PAC contributed 32 percent amounting to $78,600. Pennsylvania Politics notes that the media is an integral part of the electoral process. Social media are interactive reaching to more constitute (Pennsylvania Politics). Simply because they are friend- driven, emails, blogs, tweets, and digital public spaces are powerful means of obtaining public opinions. Mike Kelly and Thompson Glen recognized that during their respective campaigns is effective in connecting with the voters. Both Glen and Thompson’s campaigners used social network not only to fund raise but train volunteers (Pennsylvania Politics). Conclusion Thompson Glen and Mike Kelly, as representatives of the state of Pennsylvania, play  major  roles in the lower chamber. It is not only in their voting patterns but their strong belief and opinion that is evident in their proactive approaches in addressing positive change that impact  economical growth in the entire nation. Both congressmen acknowledge that for sustainable  growth  and relevance of the policies; accountability and flexibility are key factors. They only differ in their respective approaches on issues in their respective responsibilies. Their past involvement with the community makes b oth Kelly and Glen to easily relate more to the importance issues affecting ordinary citizens. Cabalena Juan. Information on Representative Mike Kelly of Congressional District September, 2011. 27th September, 2011 Centre For Responsive Politics. Get Local. 2011. Web. Pennsylvania Politics. Pennsylvania Politics National News, Statehouse Updates Elections Coverage.2011.Web. Politicians and Elections. 112th Congress Legislation. 2011. Web. US Census Bureau. State County Quick Facts. 2011. Web. September, 2011