Otto Lessing - Bronze Figure Atalanta And The Golden Apple

Bronze figure with medal patina of Atalanta, a heroine of Greek mythology. Bears the signature O. Lessing and the stamp of the founder Gladenbeck-Berlin on the terrace. The sculpture rests on a base in Portoro marble. Total height 24cm, only the bronze 15cm. Their story is told by Ovid, in The Metamorphoses. An oracle had predicted to Atalanta that she would be reduced to no longer being herself if she married. To escape fate and discourage her many suitors, she challenged them to a race and had the defeated ones put to death. Many suitors died in this way, until Hippomenes showed up. He asked for help from Aphrodite, who gave him three golden apples. Hippomenes threw them one after the other during the race. Curious, the young girl stopped to pick them up. Hippomenes took advantage of this to get ahead of her and win the victory. Only he forgets to thank the goddess Aphrodite for giving him the golden apples. To get revenge, she sends the lovers an irrepressible desire that leads them to unite in a temple dedicated to the goddess Cybele. Furious, she transforms them into lions and harnesses them to her chariot.