Italian-born Louis Monza immigrated to the United States on the eve of World War I, bringing with him considerable woodcarving skill that easily translated into other media, including printmaking and terracotta sculpture. Monza’s ability is evident in The Three Muses and the carefully incised detailing of the primary figures’ robes as the garments envelope and define the face of each goddess. The flattened figure of a devotee embraces the group, while a serpent at the base of the piece thrusts his head out toward the viewer.