Henry Fuseli

A Capriccio of the Horse Tamers

A Capriccio of the Horse Tamers by Henry Fuseli

Artwork Detail

Fuseli depicts Castor and Pollux (the Horse Tamers or Dioscuri) as they appear in the sculpture that stands on Monte Quirinale in Rome. Twin sons of Leda and Zeus and brothers of Helen of Troy, they sailed with Jason on the Argo. Granted immortality by Zeus, Pollux asks the same for Castor. The two spend alternate days on Olympus (as gods) and in Hades (as deceased mortals). Among other things the Dioscuri were saviours of those in peril on the sea, hence Fuseli depicts them with waves lapping at the base of their plinth.

Title
A Capriccio of the Horse Tamers
Artist/creator
Henry Fuseli
Production date
circa 1810-circa 1815
Medium
pencil with blue and grey wash
Dimensions
466 x 310 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1965
Accession no
1965/72
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

To find out which artworks are available for print requests and reproduction please enquire here. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection.

Explore Further