Actaeon

In this small bronze statuette, the author refers to the image of an ancient character, the hunter Actaeon, who, according to Ovid's "Metamorphoses", saw the goddess Diana (Artemis) bathing in a river with nymphs while hunting. The angry goddess turned the young man into a deer, and he was torn apart by his own dogs. This work was influenced by the artwork of Benvenuto Cellini, in particular his outstanding "Perseus with the Head of Medusa" (1554). The author of this work only specifies the image in small details – the tiny deer antlers on the character's head. The main objective of the author was to convey the plasticity of the naked body, which could be viewed from all sides. The supporting right leg and the left leg, bent at the knee, repeat the same elements as in B. Cellini's sculpture. The right arm, downward-pointing and bent right, and the left arm, which is raised high, are treated similarly. However, Actaeon's head and torso are turned to the left, making the figure more dynamic compared to the statue of Perseus. The sculpture was cast together with a small square pedestal.

On the rear edge of the podium, there is an inscription in white paint: "№ С-І-536/ Л.ОКГ" (the last letters are partially worn off). On the base of the podium, there is a mark with the inscription: "G.N.m.L./28" (crossed out in red); in the middle, there is a sticker with the inscription "28".

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery