Marius' Mule, a Typical Roman Legionary
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"The Holocaust" a Painful Remembrance
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Marius' Mule, a Typical Roman Legionary
For many the Legion and the individual Legionary, represent the true might and power of Roman Empire. Prior to the Roman Army there was no true free standing armed force in the Mediterranean basin. A fully loaded legionary on the march carried more than his armor, weapons and shield. Each man had a heavy pack held over the shoulder, which included a tool kit and cooking equipment. This burden could weigh 90 pounds or more, and often had to be carried up to 20 miles a day! Legionaries were called "Marius's mules" after the general who started the practice. During the 1st to 2nd Century CE a citizen soldier would be expected to actively serve 20 years for the Empire. With a letter of recommendation he could look forward to retiring from the army with a lump sum pension at 35-45 years of age. During his service he was not allowed to marry and he might be expected to be posted anywhere within the Empire. This Figure was commissioned by a collector of generic military "grunts," the frontline fighters.
"The Holocaust" a Painful Remembrance
When a patron wanted to pay homage to the millions of victims slain in the death camps of World War II, we knew the commission would be painful to research and construct. After extensive study, we decided upon the image of a prisoner in Auschwitz. Unlike most of the Historical Figures®, "The Holocaust" was mounted in a setting showing the notorious electric fence. Before entering a private collection in New York, "The Holocaust" was exhibited at the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. "This compassionate sculpture captures the suffering of concentration camp prisoners. It reaches out to our Museum visitors in a profoundly evocative way," said Mark Rothman, Executive Director of the Museum.
| C. J. Walker Broke Ground for Black Business Women For years I have wanted to do something to honor the history of black Americans. My intentions were impeded during my touring years by booking agents who strongly suggested that I stick to history with which my invariably all-white audiences would identify. Nowadays Americans generally have a more sophisticated view. VMHA docent Patricia Trude has spoken with me on several occasions regarding my doing something in the area of black history. Mrs. Trude suggested that I look into the story of Mme. Walker (1867-1919). Indeed, Mme. Walker's history proved fascinating. Although little known today, she is an outstanding example of the American mythology - if you work hard and never give up, you will achieve success. Mme. Walker went from house servant to becoming the first millionaire black woman and a major figure in black American affairs. All of her successes came before the civil rights movement or the enfranchisement of women. Her story illustrates the remarkable qualities of this segment of our population.
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| Ferocious Zulu Warrior Commissioned by Private Collector Art collectors come in all shapes, sizes and interests. Recently two collectors have commissioned a series of generic Figures, which we normally refuse to do. However, their collection commemorates history's famous "foot soldiers." The Zulu Warrior is the latest addition to their collection. During the mid-1800's, Zulu fighters gained a well-earned reputation as fearless and formidable foes of England's imperial ambitions in South Africa. In this Figure we attempted to capture their grace and ferocity, whether they were hunting lion or engaging redcoats in mortal combat. Soon this Zulu Warrior will enter the private collection in New York, joining a Roman foot soldier, a Roman centurion, a Greek Hoplite, an Aztec Warrior and a Swiss Landsknecht. Another "grunt" is in the works.
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| 40-Year Old Figures Rediscovered and Restored Most artists rarely rework their pieces after completion. To the contrary, I enjoy restoring and updating all the Historical Figures, regardless of their age. A recent turn of events is testing that interest and my stamina. Last year, we located thirty some odd Figures of a collection acquired by Monsanto some forty years ago. After a museum fire at their St. Louis office, the Figures were lost, only to be saved by the Hernandez family. We recently tracked the Figures to Spokane, where the current owners are making a valiant effort to prevent further deterioration. We have begun a cooperative program with the owners to restore the Figures. The original condition of the Figures will be restored; however, we will not attempt to upgrade the Figures with the refinements developed over the last forty years. To date, we have updated four of the Figures - Cleopatra, Tutankhamen, Salome and the Queen of Sheba. As funds become available, we hope to restore the rest of the group.
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| Viking Figure is Latest Warrior Generic Figures are rarely George Stuart's subjects. He prefers to focus on the recognizable, both famous and infamous. Only in recent years have nameless, frontline warriors of many ages and cultures been exceptions. For a private collection, Mr. Stuart has created several generic fighters, of which the Viking Warrior is the latest. At the request of the collector, the generic Viking was modeled after Boltar, a comic strip character. Other fighters modeled for this collection include a Zulu Warrior, Greek Hoplite, Aztec Warrior, Roman foot soldier, Roman Centurion, Norman Crusader and Swiss Landsknecht.
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Gallery Historical Figures ®
Images © copyright 2006 Peter d'Aprix
Graphic design by Leroy Becker
Programming by Mary Harrsch