A double wooden statue from a single piece of ancient Sycamore wood
The sculpture, 177.2 cm high, carved by an unnamed French master, is kept today at the Salar Jung Museum of Fine Arts - this is in the Indian city of Hyderabad. And it invariably attracts visitors with its mystery... If you stand directly in front of the statue, you can see in detail the statue of the arrogant and evil Mephistopheles, frozen with a cynical smile on his face. It would seem that there is nothing special in it as there are enough statues in this art museum...
Salar Jung is one of the three national museums of India. Most of the museum's collection was acquired by Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan, who since 1914 devoted his life to collecting treasures of art and literature. After his death, the world famous collection of 43,000 art objects and 50,000 books and manuscripts became the basis of the museum.
And this wooden statue stands out among other exhibits for its two-facedness: it depicts not only the insidious enemy of the human race, but also the naive modest Margaretta (Margarita).
A huge mirror was specially placed behind the double statue: it helps visitors see two images at the same time!
If you step aside, the reflection in the mirror will show the fragile, graceful, tender Margarita. In Goethe's play "Faust" she is called the diminutive name Gretchen.
Scientists believe that Faust was a real German alchemist and sorcerer in the 16th century, who, according to his fellow tribesmen, acquired magical knowledge with the help of the devil. And Goethe's play, exploring the age-old conflict between good and evil, became a sensation.
Faust succumbs to the machinations of the insidious Mephistopheles, and on the other hand - the naive Margarita, innocent as a child. As a result, she defeated evil and her soul was saved despite all the efforts of the evil force.
The young simpleton Margarita and the educated sage Faust are unable to resist the passion that has arisen between them. The girl's mother, her brother, and then the baby who was born become the victim of which ... And the beloved quickly disappears from Margarita's life, fleeing punishment for crimes.
The girl's hopes are shattered; she is disgraced and completely unhappy. Having lost faith in life and people, Gretchen is thrown into prison. She is facing the death penalty. And, tormented by guilt, Margarita refuses the help of Satan. She doesn't need a life of sin anymore. The purity of Margarita's soul, her repentance and firm decision to carry her fate to the end ensured her salvation: the Lord took pity on her - and Margarita's soul will go to heaven.
Such a difficult story was conveyed by the sculptor in this wooden sculpture. And do you appreciate the skill of the author who remained unknown to us?
