Title
Sketch for 'The battle of the Centaurs and Lapiths'
1978
Artist
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Details
- Date
- 1978
- Media category
- Drawing
- Materials used
- charcoal on cream paper
- Dimensions
- 30.5 x 47.5 cm sheet
- Signature & date
Signed and dated l.r. corner, charcoal "Gleeson/ 20.12.78".
- Credit
- Gift of Frank O'Keefe 1994
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 90.1994
- Copyright
- © Gleeson/O'Keefe Foundation
- Artist information
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James Gleeson
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
According to Greek mythology, the Lapiths and the Centaurs were neighbouring tribes in Thessaly in Greece. The Lapiths were as civilised as the Centaurs were wild and unrestrained. The King of the Lapiths, Pirithous, invited the Centaurs to his wedding, but a battle broke out when the Centaurs, inflamed by wine, attempted to abduct the women at the feast, including the bride Hippodamia. Many Centaurs were killed in the ensuing fight, and the rest were drived out of Thessaly. This battle was depicted frequently in ancient art, including the sculptures along the outer sides (metopes) of the Parthenon.
Nineteen drawings from Pad 3 are devoted to this subject. Again, it is the power of the story and of the notion of a half man-half beast that most interested Gleeson.
Hendrik Kolenberg and Anne Ryan, 'James Gleeson: drawings for paintings', Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2003, pg. 64.
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
James Gleeson: drawings for paintings, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 12 Apr 2003–15 Jun 2003
James Gleeson centenary: works from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 07 Nov 2015–27 Jan 2016
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Bibliography
Referenced in 1 publication
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Hendrik Kolenberg and Anne Ryan, James Gleeson: drawings for paintings, Sydney, 2003, 64 (colour illus.). cat.no. 22
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