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Ourania

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

Artist
Albert Green, born Elizabeth, NJ 1914-died Summit, NJ 1994
Luce Center Label
Ourania, also spelled Urania, is the Muse of astronomy in Greek mythology. She is traditionally portrayed holding a staff in one hand, which she points toward an orb she holds in her other hand. Here, Albert Green simplified her classical representation to present only a circle, representing the orb. Green used simple shapes, as in Ourania, to emphasize his masterful use of glaze, a skill he developed through many years of studying painting. The minimal adornments, like circles and stripes, break up the space of the clay "canvas" to create advancing and receding planes of light and dark. Green's forms and rich glazes recall the work of Chinese and Japanese potters, which inspired him and continue to influence so many American ceramists.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist
1975
Object number
1985.14
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Decorative Arts-Ceramic
Crafts
Medium
glazed porcelain
Dimensions
17 5/8 x 14 3/16 x 4 1/16 in. (44.8 x 36.0 x 10.3 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Renwick Gallery
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 53A
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Record ID
saam_1985.14
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7e8906616-e80c-4f22-9477-2191fb502066
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

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