A Lion Biting a Horse's Neck 1600

Curator: This striking image is by Antonio Tempesta, who was born in Florence in 1555 and died in 1630. It's titled "A Lion Biting a Horse's Neck" and currently resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's intense! All claws and teeth, caught in a brutal dance. You can almost hear the frantic whinnies and the lion's guttural growl. The stark black and white really amps up the drama. Curator: Tempesta was known for his battle scenes and hunting scenes. Prints like these were very popular, allowing wider audiences to access dramatic imagery and classical themes. Editor: It does feel very theatrical, almost staged. Like a moment ripped from a play. I wonder what story Tempesta was trying to tell with this particular pairing of animals? Curator: Perhaps he sought to capture the raw power of nature, and the role of violence in the natural order. Editor: Well, it certainly makes you think about power, doesn't it? It's a little unsettling, but also strangely compelling. Curator: It is a potent reminder of the social and cultural role that images of violence have played throughout history. Editor: True, and it makes you consider your place in it all.