Torso of Leda
Culture: Roman
Date: 1st-2nd century A.D.
Medium: Marble
Dimensions:
h. 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 2005.1.82
Provenance: sold by Rupert Wace Ancient Art, London, to Charles Ede, Ltd., London, 1992; sold by Chalres Ede, Ltd. to Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. (1921-2004), San Antonio, 1992; Gilbert M. Denman, Jr., by bequest to San Antonio Museum of Art, 2005
Published References
A. Rieche, "Zur 'Leda des Timotheos'," Antike Plastik 30 (2008) 56-57, C, pl. 19-21.
A. Rieche, "Verweigerte Rezeption. Zur Wirkungsgeschichte der 'Leda des Timotheos'," in Das Originale der Kopie: Kopien als Produkte und Medien der Transformation von Antike, edited by T. Bartsch, M. Becker, H. Bredekamp, and C. Schreiter (Berlin and New York: De Gruyter, 2010), 122.
Label Text
This torso and the two sculptures to its left all depict the mythological liaison between Leda, the queen of Sparta, and the god Zeus, who took the form of a swan for this encounter. Their union produced an egg from which the famous Helen, whose abduction led to the Trojan War, was born. The large statue from which this torso came depicted a version of the myth in which Zeus sent an eagle to chase the swan. Leda pulled the swan toward her while raising her cloak with one arm to protect it from the eagle. More than two dozen replicas of this composition survive, among them the statue illustrated at right.
(J. Powers, 2008)
(J. Powers, 2008)
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
