Pacing Horse - Italian School, 18th century

Cerberus Black painted stone Italy, 17th century Measures: 80 x 69 x 36cm (one head missing) Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange, Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog Over the multitude immers'd beneath. His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard, His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs Piecemeal disparts (Dante, Inferno, Canto VI). Cerberus figure seated, in his role of ferocious guardian of the underworld; he shows a nervous musculature, an adherent skin which reveals the ribs, long and robust limbs; his heads are broad and the eyes set well apart. Painted in black to amplify his menacing look, the infernal guardian is depicted with his famous attributes, writhing his heads, growling and barking furiously. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, was the monstrous watchdog of the underworld – also known as the “hound of Hades” – preventing the dead from leaving, and making sure that those who entered never left. A child of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Chimaera as well. Only on three occasions Cerberus was tricked by visitors of Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music. In "The Inferno", Dante places Cerberus as the guardian of the third circle of Hell. With his three mouths, Dante saw Cerberus as a beast that was synonymous with the sin of Gluttony. Virgil gets past the monster by throwing mud in his three mouths, temporarily choking him. Very rare are the representations of Cerberus in ancient statuary...

Griffin head Italy, 16th century On a modern metal stand Measures: 20 x 29 x 21 cm (without the stand) The griffin is a legendary creature with the body of a lion, the head an...

Marble lion white marble France, probably Périgord, 17th century Small marble lion wearing a coat of arms pendant with the engraved date, ...

Roman Lion's Protome Sandstone Gallo-Roman, 2nd century AD - 3rd century Provenance : Private Collection Prof. Giesen (Konstanz on Bodensee), pré 1945 Most likely from the Chateau a...

An elegant marble statue of the pacing stallion after the antique by Alceo Doessena. Inspired by the Horses of San Marco in Venice, this beautifull...

Large ecorché horse, hand-carved stucco, very detailed. Beautiful patina, probably France, circa 1920.

A very handsome & finely modelled, patinated antimonial lead casting of a bridled stallion. Shown rearing up on it's hind legs, the head turned slightly to the right with pricked ear...

This Vintage Horse Sculpture  is a modern artwork realized in 1927 by an Italian artist. Ceramic sculpture. Signed “Misa 927” on the base. The beautiful ceramic sculpture represent...