Star Signs in the People’s Collection: Earth Signs

In the leadup to Art in Bloom, presented by PNC, the NCMA has partnered with local cultural and scientific institutions to organize a series of astronomically appealing events related to the elements of the zodiac—this year’s Art in Bloom theme. That means multiple opportunities to celebrate the cosmically determined peculiarities of yourself and the ones you love.

Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) are creatures of habit, so we figured the best way to celebrate them is by learning about various creatures’ habits! Join us March 7 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for a special performance and floral installation partly inspired by the NCMNS’s upcoming exhibition, Staying Alive, centered around animals with extraordinary self-defense strategies. The Panoramic Dance Project, choreographed by Christa Oliver, will bring the theme of earth to life through dance, and Joseph Barnes, AIFD, from J Duff Designs of Raleigh will enliven the space with a custom floral creation. Florals will remain on view at the 11 W. Jones St. entry until March 13. Free Art in Bloom giveaways will be available during the day on March 7 while supplies last.

Keep reading for an art-historical examination of the works selected to illustrate the persistence and stability of earth signs.

Taurus: April 20–May 20

Unknown artist, Bull, circa 1300–1150 BCE

Because Tauruses love working with their hands, this handmade terracotta figurine of a bull resonates with the sign on multiple levels. Created around 1300–1150 BCE, this small statue embodies the Mycenaean practice of placing clay animals in tombs, shrines, and houses. They undoubtedly had varied uses, and their particular significance depended on their specific context. A bull figurine found in a burial had different meaning from one discovered in a cultic context, highlighting the reason an exact archaeological findspot is necessary to understand ancient objects.

Virgo: August 23–September 21

Jean-Marc Nattier, Portrait of a Lady as a Vestal Virgin, 1759

This example of portrait historié depicts a woman, most likely a courtier of King Louis XV of France, as a vestal virgin—an ancient Roman acolyte of the virgin goddess Vesta. Vestal virgins were obligated to 30 years of service to Vesta, studying and tending to her sacred hearth in the Roman Forum. This work, shown at the Salon of 1759, is done in the rococo style, which began in France in the 1730s and is often associated with European aristocracy. Jean-Marc Nattier frequently portrayed the women of Louis XV’s court as goddesses or other mythological figures. He was known for his deft ability to simultaneously idealize and replicate the appearance of his sitters. Aside from the work’s obvious connection to the characterization of Virgo as a virgin maiden, the devotional qualities of vestal virgins and courtiers call to mind Virgos’ hallmark loyalty.

Capricorn: December 22–January 19

Willem Willemsz. Buytewech, Goats and Sheep in a Grotto, 1660s

Like Capricorns, this painting is somewhat difficult to read. It is one of the only extant works by Buytewech, nearly all of which showcase animals scattered about landscapes. Scenes like this, set in an idealized landscape reminiscent of the Italian countryside, reflect the 17th-century Dutch interest in a serene, idyllic life. This interest is also found in literature of the time. Dutch artists and authors regularly framed the country as a place where the human spirit could be gladdened and refreshed. Furthermore, images of animals like this may have appealed to a broad interest in encyclopedic collections of images designed to educate. Although little is known of Buytewech’s biography, his unexpected combination of motifs lends an air of originality and charm to a modest body of work.

For all the air signs reading, keep an eye on the blog to find out which works of art have been selected to represent your core traits. Water and fire signs, you already have posts waiting for you!