Slave Advertising Figure

Chris Makrenos

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a figure of a man with dark skin, standing upright in a confident posture. He is adorned with a blue turban accented with a red and gold ornament at the center. Large gold hoop earrings hang from his ears. He wears garments colored in shades of rich amber gold, with a similarly colored cloth draped over his right arm. His left hand grips the draped fabric, while his right arm is bent at the elbow, with the hand near his waist. The sculpture stands on an octagonal base, giving it a sturdy presence. The material and finish suggest carefully rendered craftsmanship.