Scott
Burdick
2009
"Hypatia" oil, 40" by 30"
Hypatia
was one of the most famous intellectuals of her day - philosopher, mathematician,
inventor. People from all across the Roman Empire traveled to Alexandria to
study with her. But she dared to question the fantasies of gods and religion and
was seized by Christian monks at the behest of Alexandria's Patriarch
"Saint" Cyril in 415 AD. They not only burned her and all her writings, but
the great museum of Alexandria that was probably the first research institute of
science.
The painting is meant to be a play on the traditional religious paintings, except, in this case, the martyr is looking up to the light of rational truth while being dragged down toward the darkness of superstition and ignorance. If you'd like to order a t-shirt, calendar, or note cards of this painting with the words "Follow Hypatia! Seek Truth in the Light of Reason. Reject the Darkness of Superstition" on it, just go to http://www.cafepress.com/scottburdick
More Paintings
