Thessaly, Greek / Bull / late 8th Century BC

Thessaly, Greek
Bull
late 8th Century BC
View Larger Image

View Full Catalog Record Below

This image is one of over 108,000 from the AMICA Library (formerly The Art Museum Image Consortium Library- The AMICO Library™), a growing online collection of high-quality, digital art images from over 20 museums around the world. www.davidrumsey.com/amica offers subscriptions to this collection, the finest art image database available on the internet. EVERY image has full curatorial text and can be studied in depth by zooming into the smallest details from within the Image Workspace.

Preview the AMICA Library™ Public Collection in Luna Browser Now

Cultures and time periods represented range from contemporary art, to ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian works.
Types of works include paintings, drawings, watercolors, sculptures, costumes, jewelry, furniture, prints, photographs, textiles, decorative art, books and manuscripts.

Gain access to this incredible resource through either a monthly or a yearly subscription and search the entire collection from your desktop, compare multiple images side by side and zoom into the minute details of the images. Visit www.davidrumsey.com/amica for more information on the collection, click on the link below the revolving thumbnail to the right, or email us at amica@luna-img.com .

Creator Nationality: Thessaly, Greek
Creator Name-CRT: Thessaly, Greek
Title: Bull
View: Full View
Creation Start Date: -73
Creation End Date: -70
Creation Date: late 8th Century BC
Object Type: Sculpture
Materials and Techniques: bronze
Dimensions: Overall: 3 5/16 x 2 23/32 x 1 25/32 in. (8.4 x 6.9 x 4.5 cm.)
AMICA Contributor: Dallas Museum of Art
Owner Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
ID Number: 1974.85.FA
Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Clark
Rights: http://www.DallasMuseumofArt.org
Context: The bull is intact and solid cast by the lost-wax method. The body is slightly swayed, rising gently to the rump. The tail is unusually long, more like those on Geometric period bronze horses, and descends to the ground. The legs are stiff and only slightly splayed, with spurs on the forelegs to indicate joints. The feet are flattened to provide stability, since the figure lacks a base. The neck is thick and the eyes and ears are not indicated. The great horns, the primary element that distinguishes this figure from those of horses, curve out and upward from the crown of the head. A horizontal slash across the end of the cylindrical muzzle indicates the mouth.Hundreds of bronze bull figurines have been excavated at the sanctuary of Zeus and Hera at Olympia. The bronze images were produced in such quantities, undoubtedly in the immediate area, primarily during the eighth and early seventh centuries B.C. for pilgrims to the shrine to use as votive offerings to the two divinities. Live bulls were sacrificed to Zeus at Olympia, but this was a costly exercise. The small bronze, and even terracotta, substitutes catered to the needs of the average dedicator.Differences in style separate this bull from the general type found at Olympia, indicating that it comes from another part of Greece, perhaps Thessaly."Gods, Men, and Heroes," page 45
AMICA ID: DMA_.1974.85.FA
AMICA Library Year: 2003
Media Metadata Rights:

AMICA PUBLIC RIGHTS: a) Access to the materials is granted for personal and non-commercial use. b) A full educational license for non-commercial use is available from Cartography Associates at www.davidrumsey.com/amica/institution_subscribe.html c) Licensed users may continue their examination of additional materials provided by Cartography Associates, and d) commercial rights are available from the rights holder.