Nessus and Deianira
Statuette
ca. 1700 (made)
ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This group in bronze representing Nessus and Deianira is made by Giambologna in the late 16th century.
Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna) (ca. 1524-1608) was born in Flanders Giovanni Bologna and went to Rome to study antique sculpture from about 1550 to 1553. He then travelled through Florence where he was persuaded to stay. He became sculptor to the Medici family and thus became one of the most influential sculptors of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He drew attention to many artists from Northern Europe and disseminated his style mainly through small bronzes. He established an efficient and large workshop.
Nessus the centaur is the mythological figure who was shot my Hercules when Nessus tried to ravish Hercules' wife Deianira, while shipping her over the river.
On a journey Hecules and Deianira came to a river, where Nessus was the ferryman and tried to delight her. When Hercules realised that he sent his bow and slew Nessus. When dying, Nessus told Deianiera to collect his blood as it would one day help her as a love elixir. Anyone who would wear a garment rubbed with the blood would love her forever.
Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna) (ca. 1524-1608) was born in Flanders Giovanni Bologna and went to Rome to study antique sculpture from about 1550 to 1553. He then travelled through Florence where he was persuaded to stay. He became sculptor to the Medici family and thus became one of the most influential sculptors of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He drew attention to many artists from Northern Europe and disseminated his style mainly through small bronzes. He established an efficient and large workshop.
Nessus the centaur is the mythological figure who was shot my Hercules when Nessus tried to ravish Hercules' wife Deianira, while shipping her over the river.
On a journey Hecules and Deianira came to a river, where Nessus was the ferryman and tried to delight her. When Hercules realised that he sent his bow and slew Nessus. When dying, Nessus told Deianiera to collect his blood as it would one day help her as a love elixir. Anyone who would wear a garment rubbed with the blood would love her forever.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Nessus and Deianira (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Nessus and Deianira, bronze, after Giambologna (1529-1608), probably Italian, ca. 1700 |
Physical description | The centaur Nessus gallops forward, his fore-legs raised, carrying on his back the struggling Deianira, whose naked body rests on flowing drapery. He grasps her with his right arm and clutches her scarf with his left hand; both her arms are outstretched. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This group in bronze representing Nessus and Deianira is made by Giambologna in the late 16th century. Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna) (ca. 1524-1608) was born in Flanders Giovanni Bologna and went to Rome to study antique sculpture from about 1550 to 1553. He then travelled through Florence where he was persuaded to stay. He became sculptor to the Medici family and thus became one of the most influential sculptors of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He drew attention to many artists from Northern Europe and disseminated his style mainly through small bronzes. He established an efficient and large workshop. Nessus the centaur is the mythological figure who was shot my Hercules when Nessus tried to ravish Hercules' wife Deianira, while shipping her over the river. On a journey Hecules and Deianira came to a river, where Nessus was the ferryman and tried to delight her. When Hercules realised that he sent his bow and slew Nessus. When dying, Nessus told Deianiera to collect his blood as it would one day help her as a love elixir. Anyone who would wear a garment rubbed with the blood would love her forever. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.146-1910 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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