Faithful unto Death Edward John Poynter (1836-1919)
Edward John Poynter – Faithful unto Death
1865
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Download full size: 2727×4200 px (2,3 Mb)
Painter: Edward John Poynter
Location: Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool.
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The painting depicts a Roman legionary standing guard at a doorway, holding a pilum (javelin). He is clad in armor and a tunic, with sandals on his feet. His posture is rigid, and his gaze is fixed forward, suggesting a sense of duty and unwavering resolve.
Behind him, through the doorway, a scene of chaos and destruction unfolds. Figures lie fallen and seemingly dead in the foreground, amidst the rubble. The background is shrouded in darkness, with fiery or glowing orbs descending from above, possibly representing meteors or divine wrath. The atmosphere is one of impending doom or the aftermath of a catastrophic event. Notably, the shadow cast by the legionary through the doorway is distorted and monstrous, hinting at supernatural or malevolent forces at play.
The subtext of the painting is rich and multifaceted. Foremost is the theme of fidelity and duty in the face of overwhelming odds. The soldier remains at his post, steadfast even as destruction rages around him. This can be interpreted as loyalty to ones post, ones comrades, or an ideal, even in the face of death.
The painting also evokes the story of the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The descending fiery objects and the chaotic scene within the doorway are reminiscent of descriptions of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The legionary, however, stands as a symbol of Roman discipline and resilience, perhaps representing the stoic acceptance of fate or the courage to face annihilation.
Furthermore, the unsettling shadow of the soldier hints at the inner turmoil or the perception of evil and doom that can accompany such catastrophic events. It could symbolize the psychological impact of witnessing such destruction, or perhaps an allegorical representation of the forces of destruction themselves. The contrast between the ordered, stoic soldier in the foreground and the chaotic, dying figures in the background underscores the themes of order versus chaos, life versus death, and individual stoicism against collective catastrophe.