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The Exiled

The Exiled is a Carrara marble sculpture by António Soares dos Reis, held in the collection of the National Museum Soares dos Reis in Porto. It was begun in Rome in 1872 as a final examination piece for a sculpture school and completed in Porto. The work was sent to the 14th triennial exhibition of the Academia Portuense de Belas-Artes and won a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Madrid in 1881. Based on Alexandre Herculano’s poem Tristezas do Desterro, it was regarded by Teixeira de Pascoaes as a powerful expression of the Portuguese longing known as saudade. The sculpture is classified as movable cultural heritage of national interest.

The Exiled, a white marble sculpture of a seated nude male figure with curly hair and a downcast expression.
The Exiled in white marble, showing a seated nude male figure with a subdued pose.
February 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Exiled, a white marble statue of a seated nude man with bowed head and clasped hands.
The Exiled shows a seated marble figure in a pose of quiet sorrow and reflection.
February 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Exiled, a white marble sculpture of a bowed youthful figure seated on rock.
The Exiled shows a youthful marble figure seated on a rugged stone base with head bowed in contemplation.
February 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Exiled, a white marble sculpture of a seated male figure with bowed head and clasped hands.
The Exiled shows a contemplative male figure carved in white marble.
February 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Clasped marble hands from The Exiled, with part of the figure’s arms and torso visible.
Close-up of the marble hands on The Exiled, showing the sculpture’s intertwined fingers and upper body.
February 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleThe Exiled
Typestatue
Original titleO Desterrado / Der Ausgestoßene / L'Esiliato / L'Exilé

Creator

ArtistAntónio Soares dos Reis

Historical context

Completion placePorto
Exhibited at14th triennial exhibition of the Academia Portuense de Belas-Artes / Academy of Fine Arts of Porto
AwardGold medal at the 1881 International Exhibition of Madrid
Purpose of creationFinal examination for a sculpture scholarship
Place work beganRome
Start date1872

Iconography and meaning

Based onthe poem "Tristezas do Desterro" by Alexandre Herculano
Interpretation by Teixeira de Pascoaesconsidered the highest expression of saudade, characteristic of the Portuguese soul

Materials

MaterialCarrara marble

Location and ownership

CollectionMuseu Nacional Soares dos Reis, Porto
LocationPorto, Portugal
Legal statusmovable cultural property classified as of national interest (National Treasure)

Other

Patinated plaster versionHeld at Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado; made as a model for the bronze version; from the Hospitium/Hospice of Santo António dos Portugueses, Rome; transferred to Lisbon in 1908–1909 with funding from the Valmor Legacy
Bronze version locationGarden of the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado