Amazon falling from her Horse, ca. 1842-1848 ?

John Gibson RA (1790 - 1866)

RA Collection: Art

Gibson depicted the figure of a wounded Amazon three times - twice in bas-relief and once as a statue. The bas-reliefs enabled him to combine his anatomical interest in horses and the female body. Although he looked to nature, Gibson undoubtedly based his Amazons on the classical prototypes on display in the Vatican and Capitoline Galleries.

In 1850 he wrote to his friend Mrs Sandbach giving an account of the Vatican sculpture galleries. Among the works, which struck him was a ‘beautiful statue of an Amazon.’ He wrote:

‘The lover of Greek sculpture is here struck by the power of the Greek artist in blending severity of character and strength with the female form. The face is grave, and seems incapable of tender emotion – yet beautiful. The shoulders are somewhat broad, and the left breast, which is exposed, is small, not prominent. The arms and limbs are particularly fine. The tunic is a specimen of the dress which the Amazons are supposed to have worn, and is in numerous crisp folds, giving breadth to the flesh. The style of this statue is worthy of Phobias [Phidias].’ (Lady Eastlake, 1870, pp. 181-182)