Nessus and Deianira
Statuette
1635-1645 (made)
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.
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.
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Title | Nessus 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 |
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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 |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.7-1953 |
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Record created | January 14, 2004 |
Record URL |
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