The fine delineation of the horse’s musculature, the expressive rendering of its lively movements, and the accurate depiction of the ornate saddle cloth mark this statuette as both a work of high craftsmanship and a historically significant piece that represents an important subject. It was probably made as an equestrian statuette of a Roman emperor or victorious general, and it took similar representations of Alexander the Great as its model.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2001. "One Hundred Thirty-first Annual Report of the Trustees for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001." Annual Report of the Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 131: p. 19.
Artist: Date: 2nd half of 2nd century A.D. Accession Number: 1997.159 Date: 2nd half of 2nd century A.D.Medium: BronzeAccession: 1997.159On view in:Gallery 168