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Hercules slaying a Centaur

Group
ca. 1850 (cast)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

On acquisition, this piece was thought to represent Hercules and Nessus, a reduced copy of the marble group by Giambologna (Jean of Boulogne, 1529-1608), a Franco-Flemish sculptor active in Florence, Italy. Its reattribution to H. J. Hatfield was made at some date after 1974; a further bronze group, Hercules and Antaeus, was also reattributed following the discovery of the Hatfield foundry stamp concealed beneath the foot of the Hercules figure.

H. J. Hatfield was almost certainly a member of the Hatfield firm of bronze workers active from the 1840s. He is recorded as having produced a number of bronzes for the Art Union.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHercules slaying a Centaur (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Group, Hercules slaying a Centaur, bronze, Henry John Hatfield (1844-1919) after a model by Giambologna, England (London), ca. 1850
Dimensions
  • Width: 29cm
  • Depth: 23cm
  • Height: 42cm
Dimensions were taken by SCP on 05.12.14 for Bronze Zoo: A Sculptural Menagerie
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Purchased by Hildburgh from an unrecorded sale just prior to its loan to the Museum commencing on 25 October 1952, when it was described as Hercules and Nessus in the style of Francesco Susini, and thought to date from the early 17th century, Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1956.
Subjects depicted
Summary
On acquisition, this piece was thought to represent Hercules and Nessus, a reduced copy of the marble group by Giambologna (Jean of Boulogne, 1529-1608), a Franco-Flemish sculptor active in Florence, Italy. Its reattribution to H. J. Hatfield was made at some date after 1974; a further bronze group, Hercules and Antaeus, was also reattributed following the discovery of the Hatfield foundry stamp concealed beneath the foot of the Hercules figure.

H. J. Hatfield was almost certainly a member of the Hatfield firm of bronze workers active from the 1840s. He is recorded as having produced a number of bronzes for the Art Union.
Bibliographic reference
Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 298, cat. no. 461
Collection
Accession number
A.100-1956

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Record createdJanuary 14, 2003
Record URL
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