|
A mature, but unappreciated sculptor is his late 50's, Brian has nearly completed his Mercury in Repose, intended as an entry for the upcoming Salon exposition. But the intense cold and his exhaustion have begun to compromise his technical and mental clarity. As Brian puts the finishing touches on his work he frets about its flaws, and complains about his meager living conditions and his life of anonymity and poverty.
Brian is certain the statue of Mercury will be included in the exhibition and win the top prize. He rhapsodizes about the power and beauty of his subject, listing Mercury's many attributes as a shining messenger and guide for heroes of antiquity. Brian reflects back to his first artistic yearnings: winning the coveted Prix de Rome and his wonderful months of study at the Villa Medici in Italy. Now jealous of other artists' success, Brian fantasizes about a life of fame and fortune. He sees himself as a mythic hero. In a long, steady crescendo of bravado and determination, Brian lists the litany of people that he will impress at the Salon — the artists, the jury, the public — and the honors and awards that await him.
Imagining that he is presenting his work at Salon, Brian senses that the jury is not impressed, forcing him to grandstand and embarrass himself before the crowd that has gathered. After hearing the sound of the dismissal bell, Brian, in a self-destructive fury, pushes his Mercury from its stand.
Horrified at his own action, Brian suddenly remembers his role as loving creator. He carefully returns the statue to its original position, and to protect it from freezing, lays his only blanket over it. Confident that his work is saved but shivering violently in the cold, the exhausted artist succumbs to the overwhelming desire to sleep.
|