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two statues of a man and a woman on a wooden standa statue of a head with a bunch of hair on itsculpture of a male torso on a wooden basea statue of a sheep with a crown on its heada statue of a male torso on display on a white surfacean image of a statue of a man with a crown on his headmarble bust of a man with a head of flowers on his headmarble statue of a man with a goat ' s head on his backmarble statue of a man with a horse head on a pedestalmarble bust of a man with a goat ' s head in the form of a bust
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783 - Pair of Minotaurs. Italian Baroque School. 17th century
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Estimate €50,000 - €120,000
Sale commission
Description
Pair of Minotaurs. Italian Baroque School. 17th century Carved from beige and grey marble. Measures 102 cm in height including the base; 81 cm in height without the base. A pair of sculptures depicting the Minotaur, the famous creature from Greek mythology characterised by the combination of a human body and a bull’s head. The figures are conceived as monumental torsos with a powerful sculptural presence, set upon rectangular bases of Rosso di Verona marble. The composition emphasises the muscular anatomy of the human body through vigorous modelling of the pectorals, abdomen and limbs, whilst the bovine head introduces the fantastical and symbolic element that defines the mythological character. The idealised features of the body contrast with the animalistic force of the face, creating a visual tension characteristic of the Baroque style. The marble surface is meticulously crafted, highlighting the anatomical volumes and the decorative details of the hair and symbolic attributes, generating light and shadow effects that accentuate the monumentality of the figures. Iconographically, the work alludes to the famous Cretan tale of the Minotaur, son of Pasiphaë and the bull sent by Poseidon, who was later imprisoned in the labyrinth built by Daedalus and defeated by Theseus. The technical quality of the carving demonstrates a remarkable knowledge of classical sculpture and the Italian tradition, combining anatomical naturalism, formal idealisation and decorative expressiveness. Stylistically, the pieces belong to 17th-century Italian Baroque sculpture, a period in which mythological themes regained prominence as vehicles of erudition, prestige and symbolic representation. The ensemble constitutes an outstanding example of decorative sculpture of classical inspiration, capable of uniting the narrative power of ancient mythology with the theatricality and dynamism characteristic of the Baroque.
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About the sale GRAND SUMMER AUCTION OF HAUTE ÉPOQUE AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 4:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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