Description
As the name suggests, the Gigantomachy was the struggle between and the Giants and the Olympian gods, who were led by Zeus. In flowing robes, a god and goddess capture a Giant, depicted with wings and serpent-like features, to deliver the final blow in this epic battle. These three animated figures were probably once part of a series of ornamental covers called antefixes, which were placed along the lowest row of roof tiles on a small building, probably a temple. Etruscans often decorated their buildings with brightly colored sculptural compositions based on Greek mythology.
Provenance
Private collection, Switzerland [according to Bruce McAlpine in committee meeting minutes; copy in curatorial object file]; acquired by Bruce (b. 1947) and Ingrid McAlpine (1939-2018), London, England, by 1984; sold to the Art Institute, 1984.
Architectural Relief Depicting the Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants)
3rd-2nd century BCE
Accession Number
111030
Medium
Terracotta and pigment
Dimensions
45.8 × 46 × 21.9 cm (18 1/16 × 18 1/8 × 8 5/8 in.)
Classification
architectural fragment
Credit Line
Katherine K. Adler Memorial Fund