Explore the Sculpture of this artwork, Mephistopheles and Margaretta.
The 19th-century sculpture was created by an unknown French sculptor, carved into a block of sycamore wood. The obverse is a depiction of a confident and arrogant Mephistopheles, wearing a hood and boots, and with a smirk on his long face. The reverse is of Gretchen with her head bowed, appearing as a simple girl with downcast eyes.The statue is carved from one single block of wood and is exhibited with a mirror placed behind it, allowing viewers to observe both sides at the same time. The dichotomy of good and evil is emphasized by the innocence of the female figure, a demure woman holding a prayer book in her hand, contrasting with the depiction of evil exemplified by Mephistopheles.
One of the major attractions of the Museum's European Art Section, the dimensions of the statue is 177.2 cm, and it has been presumably been created around the late 19th century, in France, and the base material is sycamore wood. The sculpture represents the thin line that exists between the duplicity of good and evil as represented by Margaretta and Mephistopheles, respectively. The male image stands proud in a hooded cloak, heeled boots and has a long, gaunt face with a cynical smile, while Margaretta is shown as a shy, simple girl with a prayer book in her hand, and downcast eyes, lost in love.The statue was acquired by Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung II, in 1876, during his travels in France, and perhaps remains one of the most photographed images of the museum. The sculpture now resides in the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, India. The museum is one of the most visited in the country, and claims one million visitors annually.While the identity of the sculptor of this superb romantic sculpture remains unknown, the choice of such a German archetype for a French statue reveals how post-1870, there was a surging interest in things German and topics in countries like France, etc.
Hyderabad dichotomy France romantic sycamore Mephistopheles Salar Jung Museum Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung II Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I