Theseus Fighting the Minotaur
Maker and role
Artist: Antoine-Louis Barye, French, 1796-1875
Year
1846-1847
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Object detail
Media/Materials
Bronze
Measurements
height, 17 3/4in (45.1cm)
Credit line
Museum purchase
Accession number
1964.1
Object type
Department
Location
Further information
Locked in a lethal embrace, two muscular figures face off. Greek hero Theseus stands with feet firmly planted and a strong right hand poised ready to stab his bull-headed opponent. Part man and part bull, the Minotaur hurls a powerful leg around his enemy, pulls down, and torques his body in a dramatic diagonal. Known for theatrical portrayals of animals in deadly conflict, Antoine-Louis Barye depicts the sensational conclusion of the Greek myth in which Theseus of Athens slays the Minotaur of Crete, ending a cycle of violence between the two city states.
Documentation
Modern Art at the McNay: A Brief History and Pictorial Survey of the Collection; William J. Chiego; 2001; p. 30
Signature & date
Signed on the base: Barye
Subject period
Docent information sheet
Public comments
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