Bronze
Tate Britain
Tate Collection
Works with images
Works on display
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/frederic-lord-leighton-342" aria-label="More by Frederic, Lord Leighton" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Frederic, Lord Leighton</a>
An Athlete Wrestling with a Python
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1877
actions: expressive
actions: postures and motions
animals: reptiles
arm / arms raised
athlete
equestrian and sporting
fighting
leisure and pastimes
male
nudes
people
snake
sport
standing
twisting
work and occupations
wrestling
<p>This is the earlier of Frederic Leighton’s only two life-size sculptures, both made with the assistance of Thomas Brock. In subject and scale it was intended as a challenge to one of the greatest classical sculptures, <span>The Laocoön</span>, which shows three men being crushed by sea serpents. Frederic Leighton was a pioneer of what became known as the ‘New Sculpture’ movement in Britain. This fresh approach looked back to classical sculpture while focusing on the naturalism of the body through careful modelling of the surface. This coincided with a revival of interest in bronze, the lost wax technique used here allowing for precision in the treatment of form.</p><p><em>Gallery label, November 2016</em></p>
sculpture bronze
8 August 2005 – 4 October 2010
2010-10-04
8 August 2005 – 4 October 2010
2010-10-04
2005-08-08
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2005-08-08
Victorian Spectacle
Collection based display
16 October 2010 – 4 November 2012
2012-11-04
16 October 2010 – 4 November 2012
2012-11-04
2010-10-16
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2010-10-16
Gallery 10
Collection based display
7 August 2014 – 24 July 2022
2022-07-24
7 August 2014
2014-08-07
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2014-08-07
Gallery 9
Collection based display
11 September 2014 – 25 May 2015
2015-05-25
25 February 2015 – 25 May 2015
2015-05-25
2015-02-25
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2014-09-11
Sculpture Victorious: Art in an Age of Invention, 1837-1901
Exhibition
An Athlete Wrestling with a Python
object: 1746 × 984 × 1099 mm, 290 kg
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1877
<div><p><span>In its subject and scale, Frederic Leighton intended this sculpture as a challenge to the well-known classical sculpture, </span><i>The Laocoön</i><span>, which shows three men being crushed by sea serpents. Frederic Leighton was a founder of what became known as the ‘New Sculpture’ movement in Britain. This fresh approach looked back to classical sculpture while focusing on the naturalism of the body through careful modelling of the surface. This coincided with a revival of interest in bronze, the lost wax technique used here allowing for precision in the treatment of form.</span></p></div>
Online caption
2024-04-22T00:00:00
online-caption
ONLINE_CAPTION
actions: expressive actions: postures and motions animals: reptiles arm / arms raised athlete equestrian and sporting fighting leisure and pastimes male nudes people snake sport standing twisting work and occupations wrestling