Othello

Othello's character is based on the image of the "noble savage", the ultimate tragic hero. A Moorish general in Venice, he embodies all the traits of a noble military man: courage, honor, valor. Othello's flaws become apparent when faced with the manipulations of the villain, Iago, who provokes the rage and jealousy latent in this insecure character by playing to his weaknesses. The thought of his wife, a young Venetian noblewoman, having an affair with his lieutenant brings all of his imagined shortcomings to the forefront. He sees himself as the uncivilized Moor, tricked and betrayed by those closest to him who also represent everything he is not. He is too proud to confront the situation head on, he is too naïve to question Iago and he is too brutal to find an alternative to murder. Essentially, his qualities as a soldier prevail and lead to his downfall as a man.

Guillemin, a student of Emile Marie Auguste, debuted at the Salon in 1870 and won an honorable mention for sculpture in 1897. Clearly a follower of both the Orientalist as well as the polychromatic cculpture movements, Guillemin excels in all fronts of his trade. The present work with its excellent cast, fine detail, dramatic posture and rich patina, combines the contemporary vogues of theater and costume design with ethnographic interest in the Middle East.