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Theseus Fighting the Centaur Bianor

modeled 1849, cast ca. 1867
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 548
Barye's thorough grounding in classical prototypes is evident in this highly charged representation of an incident from the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs described in Book XII of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Bayre surely knew the series of metopes from the Parthenon depicting the Greek legend, but the death blow delivered by the Greek hero is recognizable as a borrowing from the marble Hercules and a Centaur by the Mannerist sculptor Giambologna in Florence.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Theseus Fighting the Centaur Bianor
  • Artist: Antoine-Louis Barye (French, Paris 1795–1875 Paris)
  • Date: modeled 1849, cast ca. 1867
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: confirmed: 49 3/4 × 45 1/4 × 20 3/4 in., 316 lb. (126.4 × 114.9 × 52.7 cm, 143.3 kg)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Bronze
  • Credit Line: Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 1885
  • Object Number: 85.3
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Theseus and the Centaur Bianor, Antoine-Louis Barye French, Bronze, French
Theseus and the Centaur Bianor
Antoine-Louis Barye
modeled between 1846 and 1848
Walking Tiger (Un tigre qui marche), Antoine-Louis Barye French, Bronze, wood base, French
Walking Tiger (Un tigre qui marche)
Antoine-Louis Barye
modeled 1836, executed after 1848
Standing Stag (Cerf debout), Antoine-Louis Barye French, Bronze, French
Standing Stag (Cerf debout)
Antoine-Louis Barye
Susse Frères
modeled 1829, cast probably between ca. 1850–70
Four-light candelabrum (one of a pair), Antoine-Louis Barye French, Bronze, French
Four-light candelabrum (one of a pair)
Antoine-Louis Barye
modeled ca. 1845, cast probably 1864–75
Fender, Antoine-Louis Barye French, Bronze and gilt bronze, French
Fender
Antoine-Louis Barye
second half 19th century

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