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Warrior on Horseback

Attributed to Desiderio da Firenze Italian
ca. 1540
Not on view
During the Renaissance, monumental bronze equestrian statues from Roman antiquity were highly admired for their technical virtuosity and as celebrations of triumphant ancient heroes. Several equestrian statues were created in emulation of Roman prototypes to honor contemporary rulers and military leaders. The small-scale warrior on horseback was a popular variation on the colossal equestrian statue.
Although the rider is now bolted to the horse, this horse and rider may not have been designed with this pairing in mind, as the rider appears rather small in comparison to the horse. A hole through the right hand of the rider suggests that he may once have held a whip.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Warrior on Horseback
  • Artist: Attributed to Desiderio da Firenze (Italian, born Florence, active Padua, 1532–45)
  • Date: ca. 1540
  • Medium: Ternary alloy of copper, zinc and tin, with small traces of
    lead, iron, nickel, silver, and antimony (both horse and rider);
    Black lacquer patina under a chocolate brown patina (on
    both horse and rider); the eyes of the horse are inlaid with
    silver.
  • Dimensions: H. 25.8 cm (excluding the modern, green marble base).
  • Classification: Metalwork-Bronze
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1391
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

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Satyr, Desiderio da Firenze Italian, Copper alloy with a reddish brown patina; the base and shell with a dark brown patina.
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Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
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Mortar, Alberghetti Foundry , Venice, Copper alloy with a high content of tin, some lead, and no trace of zinc; the usual trace elements of iron, nickel, silver, and antimony are present, confirming that this is an alloy of fire-refined copper, certainly dating before about 1880; dark brown patina., Italian, Venice
Mortar
Alberghetti Foundry
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Perfume Burner Surmounted by a Satyr, Desiderio da Firenze Italian, Binary alloy (copper, tin, with traces of zinc, iron, nickel, silver, and antimony); a brown to olive green patina and minor traces of gilding.
Perfume Burner Surmounted by a Satyr
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Sallet in the Shape of a Lion's Head, Steel, copper, gold, glass, pigment, textile, Italian
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