7 Sphinx
Italian (Florence), circa 1560
Bronze
64 cm (25^3 /i6 in.)
85.SB.418.1
The sphinx is a creature of fable, composed of a woman's head and chest, a lion's body,
and an eagle's wings. She is depicted crouching on all fours, with heavy-lidded eyes and
her head pulled back—like a snake about to strike—over a long, bejeweled, curving
neck that leads down to large projecting breasts proffered to an unsuspecting victim.
The overall impression conveyed is of a cool, threatening sensuality. Her exotic allure,
combined with the elaborate coiffure, sinuous forms, and fantastic imagery, is typical
of much Florentine Mannerist art and finds close sculptural parallels in the work of
Benvenuto Cellini and Vincenzo Danti.
Of Egyptian origin, the sphinx also appears in Greek and Roman art as a symbol
of voluptuousness, intelligence, and mystery. In the Renaissance, this creature was
associated with fire and death, and often ornamented chimneys and tombs. The
illustrated figure is one of a pair in the Museum's collection. Both have roughly
hammered surfaces on the front and areas of the sides, and both were left unfinished
(without any chasing after casting) on their backs and on the tops of their wings.
This suggests that they were only meant to be seen from below. They were probably
intended to support the front corners of a sarcophagus on a tomb. PF30 EUROPEAN SCULPTURE