Far From the Madding Crowd by Ariana Alexandropoulos

Artist StatementBathsheba is at a crossroads in her life. The cross represents that fact and also her religious faith. The gun and sword represent Sergeant Troy and Mr. Boldwood respectively. They are crossed over each other, because in the end they have a fight that ends in Sergeant Troys demise. The sheep and ram skulls represent the death of the sheep and Farmer Oak's tragic misfortune. The skulls breathe flowers and life, because in the end this misfortune led him to Bathsheba's heart. The overall flourishes represent Bathsheba's beauty and the beauty of the farm. — Ariana Alexandropoulos