Apollo seated on a lion, with Cupid playing a lyre and animals
Relief
1700-1720 (made)
1700-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory relief made in ca. 1700-1720 in Germany. It represents Apollo seated on a lion, with Cupid playing a lyre. The subject of this relief is enigmatic; the male figure is probably the god Apollo, though oddly equipped here with wings. Probably Apollo and Cupid symbolize the arts and love conquering force (the lion); the doves reinforce the idea of love, as do possibly the intertwined snakes. Although the style is reminiscent of Netherlands work, this relief is more likely to be German, and probably dates from the early eighteenth century. It may have once been mounted on a box.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Apollo seated on a lion, with Cupid playing a lyre and animals (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Relief, ivory, Apollo seated on a lion, with Cupid playing a lyre and animals, Germany, 1700-1720 |
| Physical description | A young male winged figure, looking upwards, rides a lion with a long flowing mane. The youth is nude except for some drapery over his groin, and sandals on his feet, and is accompanied by Cupid who plays on his lyre. In the surrounding landscape a pair of doves flutter overhead, while on the ground are two intertwined snakes. In the distance a lion attacks a horse, recalling the famous antique group. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought for £8 from Messrs Goldschmidt, Frankfurt in 1872. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory relief made in ca. 1700-1720 in Germany. It represents Apollo seated on a lion, with Cupid playing a lyre. The subject of this relief is enigmatic; the male figure is probably the god Apollo, though oddly equipped here with wings. Probably Apollo and Cupid symbolize the arts and love conquering force (the lion); the doves reinforce the idea of love, as do possibly the intertwined snakes. Although the style is reminiscent of Netherlands work, this relief is more likely to be German, and probably dates from the early eighteenth century. It may have once been mounted on a box. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 632-1872 |
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| Record created | September 12, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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