The artwork titled “Herodotus” is a creation of artist Nicholas Roerich, dating back to the year 1893. This piece is rendered in the Realism style, which aims to depict subjects truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding speculative fiction and supernatural elements. Despite being categorized as still life, this particular work appears to depict a bust rather than an arrangement of inanimate objects, which is more typical of the still life genre.
The artwork itself showcases a sculpture of a bearded figure, which one can presume to represent Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian. The bust is centered on a plain background that fades into a darkened periphery, drawing the viewer’s attention directly to the subject. The level of detail in the facial features suggests a focus on lifelike representation, embodying the principles of Realism. Delicate shading gives the sculpture a three-dimensional quality, imbuing the figure with a sense of depth and solidity. The inscription at the bottom likely provides the name “Herodotus” in Greek letters, confirming the identity of the figure depicted. Roerich’s signature can be observed in the lower right corner, serving as an authentication of the artist’s work.
