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Hercules the Archer

Antoine Bourdelle1909

The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan

This work which immortalized the name of Bourdelle takes as its subject one of the "twelve labors" of the hero Heracles from Greek mythology. This sculpture captures the instant of the arrow's release as Heracles pulls back his bow with all of the strength of his powerful body in his effort to shoot the voracious birds Stymfalides. The tension coursing through his brawny muscular body is filled with a wonderful spiritual energy when compared to the lively physical forms of Rodin's figures. This work was extremely well received when it was entered in the 1910 Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. The critic Charles Maurice praised the work with the comment "Realism extended to the realm of Idealism." (Source: Masterpieces of the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, 2009, cat. no. 142)

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  • Title: Hercules the Archer
  • Creator Lifespan: 1861 - 1929
  • Creator Nationality: French
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: Le Vésinet
  • Creator Birth Place: Montauban
  • Date Created: 1909
  • Location Created: France
  • Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings: Signed, dated and titled right front of base: HERAKLES HPAKLHS / BOURDELLE / 1909; Foundry mark with cast number left side of base: No8 / SUSSE. FONDEUR. PARIS./(c) BY BOURDELLE
  • Sculptor: Émile-Antoine Bourdelle
  • Physical Dimensions: w2400 x h2500 x d900 mm
  • Object title (Japanese): 弓をひくヘラクレス
  • Object notes (Japanese): ブールデルの名を不朽のものとした本作品は、ギリシャ神話の英雄へラクレスの「十二の功業」の一つに主題を借りている。へラクレスが怪鳥ステュムファリデスを射るために渾身の力で弓をひき、まさに矢を放とうとする瞬間を捉えている。隆々たる筋肉におおわれた緊張感あふれるヘラクレスの肉体は、ロダンのなまなましく息づいているような人体と比較するならば、驚嘆すべきエネルギーに満ちている。1910年のソシエテ・ナショナル・デ・ボザールのサロンに出品された本作品は、極めて好意的に迎えられ、批評家シャルル・モーリスは「レアリスムがイデアリスムの域にまで達している」と絶讃した。(出典: 国立西洋美術館名作選. 東京, 国立西洋美術館, 2006. cat. no. 142)
  • Artist Name (Japanese): ブールデル、エミール=アントワーヌ
  • Type: Sculptures
  • Rights: http://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/information/privacy.html
  • External Link: The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
  • Medium: Bronze
The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

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