Art Funded by you

Column to Drum

Ian Hamilton Finlay, 1990

This work depicts the gradual change of a classical pillar of antiquity into the marching drum of the Revolution. Finlay's work often refers to the French Revolution and this piece was inspired by a quote from Saint Just, 'The world has been empty since the Romans'. The suggestion is that everything started to go wrong in Roman times and that the clear thinking Revolutionary must look further back to find his way forward.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Column to Drum, 1990

Date supported

2006

Medium and material

Sandstone

Dimensions

40.3 x 39 cm

Grant

5000

Total cost

54000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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