Blind Homer with His Student Guide

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Homer
ArtistMoses Jacob Ezekiel
Year1907
TypeBronze
Dimensions170 cm × 90 cm × 140 cm (67 in × 35 in × 55 in)
LocationCharlottesville
Coordinates38°2′00″N 78°30′27″W / 38.03333°N 78.50750°W / 38.03333; -78.50750
OwnerUniversity of Virginia

Blind Homer With His Student Guide is a bronze sculpture by Moses Jacob Ezekiel in the likeness of the blind poet Homer, author of the Iliad, accompanied by a student guide. Ezekiel completed the statue in 1907 on a commission from John Woodruff Simpson as a gift for Amherst College, his alma mater.[1] For reasons unknown the gift was refused, and Thomas Nelson Page, a Virginia alumnus who was active in the UVA Alumni Association, stepped in to secure the gift of the statue to UVA instead.[2] Ezekiel completed the work in his Rome studio and donated a five foot tall black marble pedestal upon which the statue was originally installed.[3][4]

The statue is installed on The Lawn, in the grass to the north of Old Cabell Hall.

Damage and restoration[edit]

In January 2019, the statue was damaged and the lyre held by the "student guide" was apparently stolen.[5] Subsequent investigation found the lyre on the ground next to the statue. Charles McCance, the University associate Vice President for communications, said that "the original mounts were severely corroded … It would not have taken much force to remove the lyre.". The statue was restored in October 2019, returning the lyre to its original position, replacing its missing strings, reinforcing a hand that had become "wobbly," and adding a layer of protective wax to the statue.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bruce, Philip Alexander (1921). History of the University of Virginia. Vol. V. The Macmillan company. p. 320.
  2. ^ Roberts, Josie (2000-04-07). "Homer's Odyssey brings him to Lawn". The Cavalier Daily. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  3. ^ "Bronzes of Homer and Jefferson". College Topics. 1907-03-23. p. 1. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  4. ^ "The Ezekiel Bronzes". The Alumni Bulletin. 7 (2): 188–192. April 1907.
  5. ^ Mazumdar, Nafisa (2019-01-29). "Homer statue damaged". Cavalier Daily. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  6. ^ Starrs, Bridget; Whitner, Lilly; Xue, Maryann (2019-10-01). "Homer statue on South Lawn will be restored by the end of this week". Cavalier Daily. Retrieved 2020-07-11.

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