GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Hundreds of bronze bull figurines like this have been excavated at the sanctuary of Zeus and Hera at Olympia, produced nearby the shrine in large quantities primarily during the 8th and early 7th centuries BCE. While live bulls were sacrificed to Zeus at Olympia, this was a costly exercise, so votive offerings in bronze and sometimes terracotta, acted as substitutes for live bulls, and catered to the needs of the average pilgrim making dedications at the shrine. Differences in style separate this bull from the general type found at Olympia, indicating that it comes from another part of Greece, perhaps Thessaly.
Adapted from
Anne R. Bromberg, and Karl Kilinski II, Gods, Men, and Heroes: Ancient Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996. 45.
NOTES
On April 24, 1987, former curator of Ancient Art from the Cleveland Museum of Art assessed this object (along with many other ancient objects) and of this said: [2- if authentic] Arielle thought this a strange little creature, having the horns of a bull and the tail of a horse. The fact that there was no cuprite on it bothered her (cuprite being a purplish-red color that develops through time on bronze objects); however, she did like the fact that the patina was very jadelike on one side and matte on the other. She suggested sending photos to David Gordon Mitten (Professor of Archaeology at Harvard and Curator of Ancient Art at the Fogg) and possibly also to Arthur Beale (Conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
- updated provenance and geo x refs
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Historical periods
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RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1974: Dr. Elie Borowski, Basel, Switzerland [3]
From 1974: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Foundation for the Arts Collection, purchased from above [1], [2]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983
[2] The Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit corporation created as a title-holding entity to serve the people of Dallas but to operate independently of the City. The Dallas Museum of Art (at its own cost) is responsible for the care, storage, insurance, conservation, and maintenance of the collection, and agrees to maintain the highest museum standards in the management and handling of the Foundation's collection. The title to all works of art purchased or otherwise acquired by the Foundation for the Arts is retained by the Foundation.
[3] See object card in Collections Records Object file 1974.85.FA
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General Description
Hundreds of bronze bull figurines like this have been excavated at the sanctuary of Zeus and Hera at Olympia, produced nearby the shrine in large quantities primarily during the 8th and early 7th centuries BCE. While live bulls were sacrificed to Zeus at Olympia, this was a costly exercise, so votive offerings in bronze and sometimes terracotta, acted as substitutes for live bulls, and catered to the needs of the average pilgrim making dedications at the shrine. Differences in style separate this bull from the general type found at Olympia, indicating that it comes from another part of Greece, perhaps Thessaly.
Adapted from
Anne R. Bromberg, and Karl Kilinski II, Gods, Men, and Heroes: Ancient Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996. 45.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
On April 24, 1987, former curator of Ancient Art from the Cleveland Museum of Art assessed this object (along with many other ancient objects) and of this said: [2- if authentic] Arielle thought this a strange little creature, having the horns of a bull and the tail of a horse. The fact that there was no cuprite on it bothered her (cuprite being a purplish-red color that develops through time on bronze objects); however, she did like the fact that the patina was very jadelike on one side and matte on the other. She suggested sending photos to David Gordon Mitten (Professor of Archaeology at Harvard and Curator of Ancient Art at the Fogg) and possibly also to Arthur Beale (Conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
- updated provenance and geo x refs
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1974: Dr. Elie Borowski, Basel, Switzerland [3]
From 1974: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Foundation for the Arts Collection, purchased from above [1], [2]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983
[2] The Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit corporation created as a title-holding entity to serve the people of Dallas but to operate independently of the City. The Dallas Museum of Art (at its own cost) is responsible for the care, storage, insurance, conservation, and maintenance of the collection, and agrees to maintain the highest museum standards in the management and handling of the Foundation's collection. The title to all works of art purchased or otherwise acquired by the Foundation for the Arts is retained by the Foundation.
[3] See object card in Collections Records Object file 1974.85.FA
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