Somogyi, József Juno and the peacock
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Description
This late terracotta sculpture by József Somogyi depicts the Roman goddess Juno, emblem of femininity, dignity, and protection. At her side rests a peacock, her classical attribute and a symbol of majesty and immortality. The work unites timeless mythological content with the sculptor’s mature, modernized formal language, characteristic of his final creative years.
The figure leans gracefully against an Ionic column — a reference to the continuity of civilization and divine order. Her body, robust yet gentle in contour, radiates calm strength and sensual presence. The downcast eyes and serene expression convey introspection and self-contained nobility. The peacock perched above her adds a celestial balance, embodying watchfulness and beauty.
Somogyi’s treatment of Juno is far from idealized classicism; rather, it is deeply human and tactile, grounded in the warmth of terracotta. The material’s earthy tone and textured surface enhance the sculpture’s natural grace and quiet monumentality. The result is a harmonious synthesis of myth and modern sensibility — a sacred figure reimagined with contemporary empathy.
Created around 1990, Juno with Peacock belongs to Somogyi’s final period, when he increasingly focused on symbolic, introspective works. It stands as a testament to his lifelong dialogue with form, mythology, and the human spirit — a poetic farewell rendered in clay.