Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python

Relief
ca. 1720-1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze relief was made by Georg Raphael Donner (1693-1741), one of the most prolific Austrian sculptors of the time. It represents the legend of Apollo slaying the serpent Python.

Apollo was one of the twelve gods of Olympus and the embodiment of the classical Greek spirit, representing the rational and the civilised. In Greek mythology he was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin-brother of Artemis (Diana). In classical sculpture he represents the ideal form of male physical beauty (as Venus does for female) and is portrayed young, beardless, with long hair and rather feminine features. His attributes were varied: bow, arrow, quiver (for his patron of archery), the lyre (patron of poetry and music), a four-horse chariot (for the sun god), a snake (for his victory over Python) and more.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleApollo Slaying the Serpent Python (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze relief
Brief description
Relief, bronze, Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python, Georg Raphael Donner, Austrian, first half of 18th century
Dimensions
  • Height: 36cm
  • Width: 50.5cm
  • Less than depth: 1cm
Credit line
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A.
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1952.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This bronze relief was made by Georg Raphael Donner (1693-1741), one of the most prolific Austrian sculptors of the time. It represents the legend of Apollo slaying the serpent Python.

Apollo was one of the twelve gods of Olympus and the embodiment of the classical Greek spirit, representing the rational and the civilised. In Greek mythology he was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin-brother of Artemis (Diana). In classical sculpture he represents the ideal form of male physical beauty (as Venus does for female) and is portrayed young, beardless, with long hair and rather feminine features. His attributes were varied: bow, arrow, quiver (for his patron of archery), the lyre (patron of poetry and music), a four-horse chariot (for the sun god), a snake (for his victory over Python) and more.
Bibliographic reference
Warren, Jeremy, Beauty & Power: Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Peter Marino Collection, London, The Wallace Collection, 2010, exh. cat. pp. 118-119, fig. 2
Collection
Accession number
A.66-1952

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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