Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python
Relief
ca. 1720-1740 (made)
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.
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 | |
| Title | Apollo 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 |
| Physical description | Rectangular relief. On the right is Apollo walking towards the dragon, holding a bow in his left hand. On the left is the dragon, his back to Apollo but his head turned to face him. His side has been pierced by an arrow. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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 created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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