Homer, Bronze sculpture at University of Virginia, United States
Homer is a bronze sculpture at the University of Virginia depicting the ancient poet seated on a bench beside his Egyptian student guide. The companion holds a writing tablet, and both figures rest on a black marble base.
The sculpture was created in 1907 by American sculptor Moses Jacob Ezekiel in his studio in Rome. It was completed before being permanently installed on the University of Virginia campus.
The figures depict a teacher and student relationship that speaks to education and mutual learning within university life. This pairing shows how knowledge passes between generations, something visible in daily academic interactions.
The sculpture sits near Cabell Hall and is easy to locate on the publicly accessible campus grounds. Visitors can view the bronze figures from all angles and examine the marble base up close.
The artwork was originally commissioned for Amherst College but rejected there, and instead came to the University of Virginia through Thomas Nelson Page's intervention. This unexpected rerouting brought the piece to its permanent home in Virginia.
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