"Theseus and the Minotaur" by Antoine-Louis Barye

Subject  > Art Essays

Theseus and the Minotaur The idea of Theseus fighting the Minotaur was a popular neo-classical subject among sculptors. Although, Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1875) finished his sculpture about 1850 that is in the late part of what is meant by neo-classicism, Barye's modelling of the surfaces has a vibrancy and movement characteristic of the French romantic sculpture. Barye is well-known for his animal production and Theseus and the Minotaur is only one of a series produced by Barye from the early 1830s onwards.         The sculpture reproduces King Aigeus' and the god Poseidon's son, Theseus, - they both visited princess Aithra the very same night, that is Theseus had two fathers - holding his knife over Minotaur, a monster having ...

... is big - very big! - I therefore had to decide by which department I wanted to improve my knowledge. In many ways the 19th century was a time of unrest and upheaval: a neo-Platonic philosophy of life arose, an interest for classical antiquity penetrated, citizens acquired a considerable place in society etc. Consequently I darted into the department containing subjects from America and Europe in the period 1800-1890. Though I had now reduced my options I still didn't know exactly what to go more thoroughly into. Nevertheless, I know a little of Greek mythology - a very little! - so I determined to deepen with Theseus and the Minotaur.         Greek

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