Pair Of Large Drawings XIXth Combat Of The Amazons After An Antique Bas Relief, G.thierry 1888

Pair of two Large 19th Century Drawings - Combat Des Amazones - After An Antique Bas Relief, G.thierry 1888 Black pencil on paper signed and dated the first is signed THIERRY Gaston and dated Feb (18) 88. the second is signed Thierry .G and dated April (18) 88. These two drawings were executed from the bas relief of the main panel of a Hellenistic sarcophagus, kept at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Collection of antiquities, Inv. I 169). The choice of subject here fell on an episode from mythology depicting the combat of the Greeks and the Amazons during the Trojan War. The composition is inspired by traditional models of Greek sculpture as well in the arrangement of the characters, postures and attitudes of the combatants, only by the effects of drapery contrasting with the nudity of the bodies. This so-called Fugger sarcophagus, owned since 1568 by the Fuggers of Augsburg, after passing through Venice, was found in Cyprus, presents a fine example of Hellenistic sculpture from the 2nd half of the 4th century. av. JC, often admired by artists and archaeologists. The two drawings seem in fact to be a production within a French or Belgian academic school (Beaux-Arts in Paris or Brussels?) As suggested by the mention at the bottom right of one of the two drawings “Seen: Director F. Rops (?) ”. the two sheets are in good condition and under glass, to mention a natural yellowing and some clear spots which do not harm the reading and the aesthetics of the work.