Farnese Bull

Farnese Bull

Farnese Bull. Ancient marble sculpture group (probably a Roman copy of a Greek original of c.150 bc); it was found in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome in 1545, was acquired for the Farnese collection soon afterwards, and is now in the Archaeological Museum in Naples. The subject, taken from Greek legend, involves the punishment of Dirce, who for her cruelty to Antiope was tied to the horns of a bull by Antiope's sons ( Dirce's stepsons) and trampled to death. The figures are life-size, and the group is one of the most spectacular examples of the technical virtuosity and dramatic movement typical of Hellenistic art; Federico Zuccaro described it as a ‘marvellous mountain of marble’.

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IAN CHILVERS. "Farnese Bull." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

IAN CHILVERS. "Farnese Bull." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-FarneseBull.html

IAN CHILVERS. "Farnese Bull." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-FarneseBull.html

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Farnese Bull

Farnese Bull Ancient marble sculpture group (probably a Roman copy of a Greek original of c.150 bc), once part of the Farnese collection and now in the Archaeological Museum in Naples. The subject, taken from Greek legend, shows the punishment of Dirce, who for her cruelty to Antiope was tied to the horns of a bull by Antiope's sons (Dirce's stepsons) and trampled to death. The figures are life-size, and the group, which was found in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome in 1545, is one of the most spectacular examples of the technical virtuosity and dramatic movement typical of Hellenistic art; Federico Zuccaro described it as a ‘marvellous mountain of marble’.

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IAN CHILVERS. "Farnese Bull." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

IAN CHILVERS. "Farnese Bull." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O3-FarneseBull.html

IAN CHILVERS. "Farnese Bull." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O3-FarneseBull.html

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Farnese Bull

Farnese Bull sculptured group representing Zethus and Amphion, sons of Antiope, tying Dirce (who had ill-treated their mother) to an enraged bull. The sculpture is generally considered to have been executed by Apollonius of Tralles and his brother Tauriscus in the 1st or 2d cent. BC A copy made in the early 3d cent. AD decorated the Baths of Caracalla. This copy, with incorrect restorations, was later in the Farnese Palace and is now in the National Museum, Naples.

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"Farnese Bull." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Farnese Bull." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-FarneseB.html

"Farnese Bull." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-FarneseB.html

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