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| Gianlorenzo Bernini Vision of Constantine 1670 marble Scala Regia, St Peter's Basilica, Rome |
The drapery behind the figure of the Emperor Constantine (above) reflects "the drama of what is about to happen; the folds form powerful downward diagonals from left to right, parallel to the diagonals of the rider's body and the horse's front legs. But although the drapery thus emphasizes the dynamic element in the tableau, it also represents something of a necessary compromise." The statue had been conceived for a much smaller niche inside the church, on the spot where Queen Christina's tomb would eventually be built. Without the drapery, Constantine and his horse would have appeared too small in their new location at the bottom of the Scala Regia. "We know that Bernini was busy on it during 1662, and about that time both Queen Christina and the Pope visited the artist in his studio and saw it there. It was probably not finished until 1668, however, and it was not unveiled until 1670."
– from Rome in the Age of Bernini by Torgil Magnuson, English translation by Nancy Adler (Stockholm : Almqvist & Wiksell International, 1986)
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| Willem Danielsz van Tetrode Warrior 1562-65 bronze statuette Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
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| Relief of a Horseman 1st century BC Hellenistic marble Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| Andrea del Verrocchio Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleone 1481-95 bronze Campo di Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice |
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| Horace Vernet Portait of the Duc de Chartres on horseback 1832 oil on canvas private collection |
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| Raphael Study of a sculpture of a horse ca. 1516 drawing Chatsworth House, Derbyshire |
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| Théodore Géricault Horse race 1816-17 oil on paper Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid |
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| Edmé Bouchardon Study for an equestrian statue of Louis XV 1750s drawing Louvre |
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| Giambattista Tiepolo Rider & Horse early 18th century drawing Victoria & Albert Museum |
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| Luca Cambiaso Soldier on horseback 16th century drawing Morgan Library, New York |
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| George Stubbs Equestrian portrait of Sir Sydney Medowes 1778 oil on panel Royal Collection, Windsor |
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| Peter Paul Rubens St George and the Dragon 17th century wash drawing Louvre |
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| Diego Velázquez Philip IV on Horseback 1634-35 oil on canvas Prado |
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| Sir Edwin Landseer Sketch for Queen Victoria on Horseback ca. 1837-39 oil on panel Royal Collection, Windsor |