Monkey fountain figure ca. 1600 Possibly Caspar Gras The Monkey crouches balancing itself on crossed paws. It hunches, shoulders forward, collared neck tucked in, and braces its forearms against its knees to better hold a lost object, perhaps a rod or a chain, in its hands. The head is inclined forward; the parted mouth, flared nostrils, and direct gaze communicate alertness. This work was probably part of a now lost group of animal sculptures and may have decorated a modelled after a living macaque monkey; this life-sized sculpture captures the species’ physical features, po
Monkey fountain figure ca. 1600 Possibly Caspar Gras The Monkey crouches balancing itself on crossed paws. It hunches, shoulders forward, collared neck tucked in, and braces its forearms against its knees to better hold a lost object, perhaps a rod or a chain, in its hands. The head is inclined forward; the parted mouth, flared nostrils, and direct gaze communicate alertness. This work was probably part of a now lost group of animal sculptures and may have decorated a modelled after a living macaque monkey; this life-sized sculpture captures the species’ physical features, posture, and energy with a high degree of naturalism. During the Renaissance, wild macaques (Macaca sylvanus) imported from Gibraltar and North Africa were popular throughout Europe; artists could have studied them in royal menageries. Because of its skill at mimicry the monkey was a symbol of painting and sculpture – the arts which emulate or "ape" Monkey fountain figure. Possibly Caspar Gras (Austrian, Bad Mergentheim, near Würzburg 1585–1674 Schwaz, near Innsbruck). Austrian. ca. 1600. Bronze. Sculpture-Bronze
Size: 3000px × 4000px
Photo credit: © MET/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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