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Hercules and the Centaur

Model
first half of 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Caccini, Giovanni (sculptor)
Place of origin
Florence (made)

This group, representing Hercules and the Centaur, is made by Giovanni Caccini in Florence in 1594/5. The model is apparently a study for the restoration of the antique marble group of this subject in the Uffizi. The restoration of this group was undertaken by Caccini and completed by 8th July, 1595. Caccini (1556-1612/13) trained both in architecture and in sculpture, worked as a portraitist mainly in Florence.


Object details

Categories
Myths & Legends
Sculpture
Object type
Model
TitleHercules and the Centaur (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Terracotta
Terracotta
Brief description
Group, sketch model, terracotta, Hercules and the Centaur, by Giovanni Caccini, Florence, first half of 16th century
Physical description
This statuette in terracotta represents Hercules standing naked behind and to one side of the Centaur, holding the Centaur's right arm with his left hand and forcing its head downwards with his right. The lion skin of Hercules is draped across his left arm and down the Centaur's back.
Dimensions
  • Height: 44.1cm
Object history
Purchased from the Gigli-Campana Collection, £5 in 1861.
Subjects depicted
Lion Skin
Hercules
Centaur
Summary
This group, representing Hercules and the Centaur, is made by Giovanni Caccini in Florence in 1594/5. The model is apparently a study for the restoration of the antique marble group of this subject in the Uffizi. The restoration of this group was undertaken by Caccini and completed by 8th July, 1595. Caccini (1556-1612/13) trained both in architecture and in sculpture, worked as a portraitist mainly in Florence.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 80
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, pp. 151, 152
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 483, 484
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
7627-1861

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312761/hercules-and-the-centaur-model-caccini-giovanni/
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