ticketsMember | Make a donation

Pair of double-headed monsters

late 17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 537
Venice is suggested only as a possible place of origin for these exceptionally vigorous Baroque creatures; Augsburg and even France would be equally plausible. It is no easier to reconstruct the purpose for which they were made. Their undersides are slightly flattened and pierced for attachment, so that they could have flanked a bust on an elaborate pedestal, or, perhaps more likely, they may have embellished a fountain.

[James D. Draper, 1984]

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pair of double-headed monsters
  • Date: late 17th century
  • Culture: Italian, possibly Venice
  • Medium: Bronze, with black lacquer patina
  • Dimensions: Overall (.115) (confirmed): 5 1/8 × 9 13/16 × 4 3/4 in. (13 × 24.9 × 12.1 cm)
    Overall (.116) (confirmed): 6 3/16 × 10 7/8 × 4 3/4 in. (15.7 × 27.6 × 12.1 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Bronze
  • Credit Line: The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection, 1982
  • Object Number: 1982.60.115, .116
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Hercules and the Erymanthian boar, Giambologna Netherlandish, Bronze, with red-brown lacquer patina, Italian, probably Florence
Hercules and the Erymanthian boar
Giambologna
Late 17th or 18th century
Virgin and child, Niccolò Roccatagliata Italian, Bronze, Italian, Venice
Virgin and child
Niccolò Roccatagliata
early 17th century
Meleager, Antonio Gai Italian, Marble, Italian, Venice
Meleager
Antonio Gai
1735
Nude Women Wrestling, Leonhard Kern German, Bronze, with medium brown natural patina and traces of dark lacquer, German
Nude Women Wrestling
Leonhard Kern
mid-17th century
Girl Braiding her Hair, Barthélemy Prieur French, Bronze, with red-brown lacquer patina, French
Girl Braiding her Hair
Barthélemy Prieur
1600–1610

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.