Desolation, Marble sculpture at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Desolation is a marble sculpture depicting a grieving female figure housed in the Dome Room of the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The work is carved from polished marble and measures about 67 centimeters in height, creating a striking presence within the museum's collection.
Created by Josep Llimona in 1907, the sculpture won a gold medal at the V Exhibition of Fine Arts in Barcelona that same year. The work emerged during a period when Catalan art was becoming increasingly expressive and emotionally direct.
The sculpture shows a grieving female figure that marked a shift in how the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc approached artistic expression. This represents a moment when the artist group started to embrace more emotional and realistic depictions in their work.
The sculpture is located in the Dome Room and provides good accessibility for visitors of varying mobility levels. You can walk around it freely and view the figure from multiple angles to appreciate its carved details and overall form.
Versions of this sculpture exist in different locations around the world, with replicas displayed at the Parliament of Catalonia and in Boston's Kelleher Rose Garden. This global presence demonstrates how the work's emotional power resonated beyond its original museum setting.
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