Griffins vs. Deer (325-300 BC)
In this marble table support piece, two griffins with upraised wings tear violently into the flesh of a fallen doe – a symbol of civilization’s oppression of barbarism, or perhaps more candidly, the oppression of any group of people who did not conform to the ‘proper’ Greek way of life. Mythological creatures that blended together elements of lions, snakes, and eagles were quite popular in Greek art around 300 BC, and images of these creatures were often used as a metaphor for the struggle and confrontation between life and death.
Aside from some very minor additions, this piece of sculpture was carved from one, single block of marble – but it did not always appear the way it now stands. In fact, the entire sculpture was once covered in richly colored paint, some of which still remains in trace amounts. There are small spots of blue still visible on the griffins’ wings, bright red on their manes, traces of brown on the deer’s body, and some remnants of green on the base.
Adding an element of the macabre to an image that already exudes violence, small traces of red paint that represent blood remain around the mouths of the griffins and inside of the claw scratches on the deer’s body. If it were not for the cut marks along the top and inner surfaces of the wings, it would not be obvious that the 3-foot-high sculpture served as the base for a table!
Although very few examples of furniture of this elaborate magnitude have survived, the unfortunate truth is that the exact provenance of this piece is unknown – it is only known to have come from someplace in Southern Italy, called “Magna Gracia” in ancient times – and it was probably looted many years ago from a site near the Italian town of Foggia. While it is currently on display at the Getty Villa, it is under negotiations to return to Italy in the near future.
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Tomorrow: Mmmm Manioc…Ancient Manioc!
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