Pluto and Cerberus
early 17th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Height: 11 3/8; Width (elbow to forearm): 3 5/8; maximun depth (diagonal from tree trunk support behind leg to front edge of base): 5 1/16 in. (28.9 x 9.2 x 12.9 cm); Wt. 6lb. (2.7216kg)
Classification
Sculpture-Bronze
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Howard J. Sachs and Mr. Peter G. Sachs, in memory of Miss Edith L. Sachs, 1978
Accession Number
1978.516.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 17th century, sculptor Giovanni Battista di Jac crafted this captivating bronze sculpture, *Pluto and Cerber*, now a treasured piece in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. Standing just 11⅜ inches tall, this diminutive yet dynamic work exemplifies the era's fascination with classical mythology, rendered in the enduring medium of bronze. The lost-wax casting technique allowed for intricate details, from the god's muscular form to the snarling hounds, making it a prized collector's item for Renaissance and Baroque elites. The subject...