Open full image Pin

Sculpture - Of a Lion upon a Horse, now in the Palazzo de' Conservatori on the Capitol

John Henry Parker

1867

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Sculpture - Of a Lion upon a Horse, now in the Palazzo de' Conservatori on the Capitol is a 1867 photographic by John Henry Parker, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: John Henry Parker
When & what style?: 1867 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This photo shows a carved stone sculpture of a horse and lion tangled together. The horse rears up on its hind legs, while the lion clings to its back with its front paws. Their bodies twist in a dramatic, almost violent pose, set against a plain stone wall. The sculpture looks like it’s made to be seen from one side, with the lion’s head turned slightly away. The details in the fur and muscles are clear, but the photo is in black and white, so we can’t see colors. If you like this mix of animals, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see it in person.

The story of this work

Overview

The photograph depicts a Roman sculpture in the Palazzo de' Conservatori, Rome, showing a lion attacking a horse. Part of a series of over 3,300 photographs documenting Rome's classical to 17th-century monuments and artifacts, it was produced between 1864 and 1879 under John Henry Parker's direction. The images were later published in his *Archaeology of Rome* (1874–1879) and include work by photographers such as Adriano De Bonis and Filippo Spina. The Victoria and Albert Museum holds many of the photographs taken before 1870.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

John Henry Parker

John Henry Parker liked to explore old churches in Rome. He'd photograph the sculptures and carvings he found. One thing that stands out is his attention to detail - he'd capture tiny parts of bigger pieces, like the…

See the richer artist page