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19th Century Bronze Sculpture Furietti Centaurs

Name: 19th Century Bronze Sculpture Furietti Centaurs
SKU: as1225a012
Price: 2275.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

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Large pair of 19th Century Furietti Centaurs of the Villa Hadriana, after the ancient.

Bronze cast, with lovely green patina, on stone bases.

Probably Italian.

Striking & impressive decorative pieces.

The Furietti Centaurs (known as the Old Centaur and Young Centaur, or Older Centaur and Younger Centaur, when being treated separately) are a pair of Hellenistic or Roman statues in grey-black marble from Laconia (Greece) sculptures of centaurs based on Hellenistic models. One is a mature, bearded centaur, with a pained expression, and the other is a young smiling centaur with his arm raised. The amorini are missing that once rode the backs of these centaurs, which are the outstanding examples of a group of sculptures varying the motif.

The strongly contrasted moods were intended to remind the Roman viewer of the soul troubled in pain with love or uplifted in joy, themes of Plato's Phaedrus and Hellenistic poetry.

The pair were popular in the 18th century, as illustrations of centaurs that posed them as civilized patrons of hospitality and learning, like Chiron, rather than bestial half-animals (as at the Battle of the Centaurs). With their erotes, they were emblems of the joy of young love and the contrasting bondage of maturity to love, themes to which a Rococo audience would easily respond. But Ennio Quirino Visconti remarked on the Bacchic attributes of the Borghese/Louvre centaur, whose amorino is crowned with berried vine, to suggest that the forces in play were those of intoxication rather than love. Jon van de Grift, in examining the iconography of a pair of early Imperial Roman silver scyphi (drinking cups) embossed with motifs of centaurs ridden by erotes, part of the Berthouville treasure, notes that "the motif of an amorino torturing an old sullen centaur, usually within a lively Dionysiac procession, is encountered in Roman mosaics and Dionysiac sarcophagi he offers the Furietti centaurs as iconographic parallels.

Raised Arm H: 53cm / W: 38cm / D: 17cm + Arms Tied H: 45cm / W: 32cm / D: 16cm

Price

£~~2275.00~~

$~~2911.09~~ USA

€~~2748.43~~

The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 9/DEC/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.

Shipping information

Free collection from London SE18 is possible by appointment.
Small to medium items boxed and sent by fedex to UK, EU and Worldwide.
Recommend van courier for very large items to UK and EU.
Large items can also be sent crated.
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All items sent insured.

Period 19th Century Antiques Material Bronze Origin Italian Item code as1225a012 Status Sold

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