Nessus and Deianira thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Nessus and Deianira

Statuette
1635-1645 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This popular theme from ancient Greek mythology is one of the tales recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Having offered to carry Hercules and his wife Deianira across the river Euenos, the centaur Nessus took advantage of the situation to ravish Deianira. Hercules, observing the scene from the river bank, drew his bow and fired an arrow, which pierced the centaur's chest.
Here Nessus is about to gallop off with Deianira on his back, while she puts up a fierce struggle, forcing the centaur to use both arms to restrain her.
Little is known about Francesco Fanelli (b: about 1577 - d: soon after 1641). Fanelli, a Florentine by birth, was documented in Genoa in 1608, where, until about 1631, he produced religious works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze. By 1635, he was working at the English court. Although he described himself 'sculptor to the King of Great Britain', it is unclear whether this title was official. The V&A owns versions of several small bronzes by the artist, described as 'ffrancisco the one-eyed Italian' in an inventory of Whitehall Palace in 1639. George Vertue stated that Fanelli 'lv'd and dyd in England'; he is last documented in 1641 and believed to have died soon after.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Statuette
  • Base
TitleNessus and Deianira (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Statuette, bronze, by Francesco Fanelli, Anglo-Italian, c.1635-45
Physical description
Nessus the centaur is galloping away, both his hooves above ground, holding the naked and outstretching Deianira around her hips. She puts up a fierce struggle, forcing the centaur to use both arms to restrain her.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.3cm
  • Length: 19.1cm
Credit line
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953.

Historical significance: This is probably a version of the Centaur with a Woman mentioned by the engraver and antiquary George Vertue (1684-1756).
Production
Anglo-Italian
Subjects depicted
Summary
This popular theme from ancient Greek mythology is one of the tales recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Having offered to carry Hercules and his wife Deianira across the river Euenos, the centaur Nessus took advantage of the situation to ravish Deianira. Hercules, observing the scene from the river bank, drew his bow and fired an arrow, which pierced the centaur's chest.
Here Nessus is about to gallop off with Deianira on his back, while she puts up a fierce struggle, forcing the centaur to use both arms to restrain her.
Little is known about Francesco Fanelli (b: about 1577 - d: soon after 1641). Fanelli, a Florentine by birth, was documented in Genoa in 1608, where, until about 1631, he produced religious works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze. By 1635, he was working at the English court. Although he described himself 'sculptor to the King of Great Britain', it is unclear whether this title was official. The V&A owns versions of several small bronzes by the artist, described as 'ffrancisco the one-eyed Italian' in an inventory of Whitehall Palace in 1639. George Vertue stated that Fanelli 'lv'd and dyd in England'; he is last documented in 1641 and believed to have died soon after.
Bibliographic references
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. 'Some Bronze Statuettes by Francesco Fanelli', in: The Burlington Magazine, XCV, May 1953, reprinted in: Essays on Italian Sculpture, London and New York, 1968, pp. 166-171
  • Avery, Charles and Keeble, K. Coray, Florentine Baroque Bronzes and Other Objects of Art, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, exhibition catalogue, 1975, pp. 20-21
  • Radcliffe, A. and Thornton, P., 'John Evelyn's Cabinet', in:
  • Binnebeke, Emile von. Bronze Sculpture: Sculpture from 1500-1800 in the Collection of the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam, 1994, pp. 86-89, cat. no. 20
Collection
Accession number
A.7-1953

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 14, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest