If you see this message, your browser is unable to view the answers through dynamic HTML. The answers to the questions are:

  1. Can you tell who will win this battle, just by looking at the sculpture? (The human figure: Theseus.)
  2. What visual clues has the artist given you to predict the outcome? (Theseus is higher than the Centaur. Theseus's facial expression is calm and determined. The Centaur appears painful and frantic. Theseus appears to have command of his body, while the Centaur's limbs and torso appear twisted and out of control.)
  3. How has Barye made these two figures look opposite in his sculpture? (Theseus's hair is neat and tidy; the Centaur's hair is wild and messy. Theseus has open eyes and a closed mouth; the Centaur's eyes are closed and his mouth is open. Theseus's body appears centered and compact; the Centaur's limbs and tail fly out into space.)
  4. Where is most of the action taking place in this sculpture? (In the area between the heads and shoulders of the two figures.)
  5. How has Barye directed our attention to this area? (Centaur's body is tilted upward and curves into the area of the action. The figures interlocking arms curve into each other. Theseus's raised arm suggests an implied movement toward the Centaur's head. Theseus gazes directly at the Centaur's head.)
  6. Where can you see Barye's attention to detail in his sculpture of Theseus and the Centaur? (Musculature of the two figures; the Centaur's flowing hair, tail, and beard; the facial expressions of the figures.)
  7. Why do you think he made this choice? Hint: Barye chose to represent this moment in the story because he was interested in the French ROMANTIC values of his time. The Romantic STYLE in art was highly theatrical and flamboyant. (Barye chose to represent the climax of the story, the most active, exciting, and dramatic moment.)
  8. What other stories can you think of that Barye might be interested in? (Any stories that contain animals who perform dramatic feats.)
  9. Can you think of any modern discoveries, inventions, and technologies that have created a new interest in something? (New technology created new interest in "video" pinball games. New recycling technology sparked an interest in recycling and generated recycling products. Digital imaging technology created a new interest in animation).
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Theseus Slaying a Centaur



Discussion Questions:

Theseus Slaying a Centaur
Theseus Slaying a Centaur
About 1855
Antoine-Louis Barye
Bronze
Gift of the Louis W. Hill family

Key Ideas
Story
Background
Discussion Questions

Look

  1. Can you tell who will win this battle, just by looking at the sculpture? The human figure: Theseus.
    What visual clues has the artist given you to predict the outcome? Theseus is higher than the Centaur. Theseus's facial expression is calm and determined. The Centaur appears painful and frantic. Theseus appears to have command of his body, while the Centaur's limbs and torso appear twisted and out of control.

Detail from Theseus Slaying a Centaur

Detail from Theseus Slaying a Centaur

  1. Review the story of Theseus. In the story, Theseus represents good and the Centaur represents the opposite, evil.
    How has Barye made these two figures look opposite in his sculpture? Theseus's hair is neat and tidy; the Centaur's hair is wild and messy. Theseus has open eyes and a closed mouth; the Centaur's eyes are closed and his mouth is open. Theseus's body appears centered and compact; the Centaur's limbs and tail fly out into space.

  2. Where is most of the action taking place in this sculpture? In the area between the heads and shoulders of the two figures.
    How has Barye directed our attention to this area? Centaur's body is tilted upward and curves into the area of the action. The figures interlocking arms curve into each other. Theseus's raised arm suggests an implied movement toward the Centaur's head. Theseus gazes directly at the Centaur's head.

  3. Imagine that the limbs and bodies of these two figures are lines. What kind of lines are they? Are they thick or thin? Are they smooth? Jagged? Bumpy? Do the lines curve or are they straight? Where do the lines touch each other? Barye's sculpture implies movement and tension.
    How do the quality and direction of the sculpture's lines contribute to the implied movement and tension? Thick, smooth lines sharply curve or angle into one another, implying movement and tension where the lines interact. The bodies of the figures can be seen as twisting or spiraling lines that add to the feeling of tension.

  4. ROMANTIC artists such as Barye paid a great deal of attention to details.
    Where can you see Barye's attention to detail in his sculpture of Theseus and the Centaur? Musculature of the two figures; the Centaur's flowing hair, tail, and beard; the facial expressions of the figures.

Think

  1. Review the story of Theseus and the Centaur. What part of the story did Barye choose to represent?
    Why do you think he made this choice? Hint: Barye chose to represent this moment in the story because he was interested in the French ROMANTIC values of his time. The Romantic STYLE in art was highly theatrical and flamboyant. Barye chose to represent the climax of the story, the most active, exciting, and dramatic moment.
    Think of another story you know. What part of this story would you represent if you were designing a sculpture in the Romantic style?

  2. Barye was a sculptor who specialized in animals. He studied animals at museums and zoos and liked to show them in dramatic poses.
    What other stories can you think of that Barye might be interested in? Any stories that contain animals who perform dramatic feats.

  3. Greek and Roman art and ideas became very popular in Europe because of discoveries of ancient ruins during the 18th century.
    Can you think of any modern discoveries, inventions, and technologies that have created a new interest in something? New technology created new interest in "video" pinball games. New recycling technology sparked an interest in recycling and generated recycling products. Digital imaging technology created a new interest in animation.
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