Prometheus is a fresco by Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco. It depicts the Greek Titan Prometheus stealing fire from the heavens to give to humans. It was commissioned for Pomona College's Frary Dining Hall and completed in June 1930, becoming the first modern fresco in the United States. It has received widespread critical acclaim.
Description
The mural is above a fireplace at the north end of Frary's refectory. It consists of four panels: a main one facing the open eating area of the dining hall, two side ones, and an overhead one. The Greek mythology Titan Prometheus dominates the main panel, reaching for fire to give to humans, an act for which he would later be punished by Zeus. Surrounding his muscular, contorted figure is a crowd of people reacting to the gift, with some welcoming it and others scorning it. The color palette features heavy use of reds, blues, and black.
Production
The mural was commissioned for Pomona College's newly built neo-Gothic men's dining hall by its architect, Sumner Spaulding, and professor of art history and Hispanic studies. Students helped to raise $300 of Orozco's artist fee of $2500. Orozco stayed on campus for three months to complete the mural, living in a Clark dormitory, eating meals at Frary, and using students as models. He was assisted in the painting by Jorge Juan Crespo de la Serna, particularly with the side panels.
Interpretation
Art historians generally interpret the mural to be a metaphor for the challenges often faced by those seeking to expand the realm of knowledge, particularly from conservative authority figures. The varying reactions of the crowd around Prometheus depicts that human development comes with both costs and benefits. This theme connects to the mural's collegiate setting. It also had personal resonance for Orozco, who faced resistance throughout his life from those opposed to his leftist political views. The subject of fire was of interest to him because of a fireworks mishap in which he lost his left hand when he was 21.
Reception and influence
Prometheus received immediate critical acclaim upon completion. It was the first major work by a Mexican muralist in the United States, and helped Orozco, who was relatively unknown at the time, to subsequently land two other U.S. commissions, a mural room at The New School in New York City and The Epic of American Civilization at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He would later become known as one of the "big three" of the Mexican Mural Renaissance. It heavily influenced abstract expressionistJackson Pollock, who called it "the greatest painting in North America". Spaulding, Frary's architect, said "I feel as though the building would fall down if the fresco were removed." Among contemporary students, it is often noted for its conspicuous lack of a penis; Orozco likely omitted it to avoid offending puritanical sensibilities.
Preservation and restoration
Pomona has undertaken various preservation and restoration efforts over the years. In 1980, a protective varnish was applied over the mural. In 1982, structural damage was discovered in the wall behind the mural; it was subsequently reinforced. In 2000, the college acquired preparatory drawings for the work from Orozco's relatives.
