Henry Fuseli
A Capriccio of the Horse Tamers
Artwork Detail
Fuseli depicts Castor and Pollux (the Horse Tamers or Dioscuri) as they appear in the sculpture that stands on Monte Quirinale in Rome. Twin sons of Leda and Zeus and brothers of Helen of Troy, they sailed with Jason on the Argo. Granted immortality by Zeus, Pollux asks the same for Castor. The two spend alternate days on Olympus (as gods) and in Hades (as deceased mortals). Among other things the Dioscuri were saviours of those in peril on the sea, hence Fuseli depicts them with waves lapping at the base of their plinth.
- Title
- A Capriccio of the Horse Tamers
- Artist/creator
- Production date
- circa 1810-circa 1815
- Medium
- pencil with blue and grey wash
- Dimensions
- 466 x 310 mm
- Credit line
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1965
- Accession no
- 1965/72
- Copyright
- No known copyright restrictions
- Department
- International Art
- Display status
- Not on display
To find out which artworks are available for print requests and reproduction please enquire here. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection.