Lion Attacking a Stallion 1600 - 1620

Editor: This small bronze sculpture, "Lion Attacking a Stallion," made between 1600 and 1620 by Antonio Susini, is incredibly dynamic! The tension between the two figures is palpable. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This piece fits into a tradition of equestrian statues, often deployed by those in power to demonstrate their dominance and control, not just over nature, but over the populace as well. Here, the artist reduces the heroic grandeur to almost baroque violence, presenting a struggle not just of animals, but, perhaps, empires. Editor: So, the piece could be speaking to anxieties around power structures? Curator: Precisely! Consider where these sculptures were often displayed. Aristocratic homes, yes, but also increasingly, in public collections aimed at impressing citizens with a show of force, or a warning, let's say. Think about the theatricality of Mannerism too - the exaggerated poses, the emphasis on skill. It served a distinct political purpose. How might that affect our view of its value then, and now? Editor: I never considered how its role as a display object affects the piece's meaning, I see the history, both artistic and political. Thank you! Curator: And I am reminded that we are never separate from history ourselves as viewers – we must acknowledge what we bring in the dialogue.