Studies of the Dioscuri (recto and verso)

The 'Golding and Snelgrove' watermark is found quite frequently among Fuseli’s drawings from 1814 onwards, but the present double-sided drawing reflects, presumably by way of other studies or even Fuseli’s retentive memory for a much-used motif, his viewing of the famous Antique sculptural group of the Dioscuri, during his years in Rome, 1770-78. The massive statues of Castor and Pollux or the Horse Tamers with their rearing horses were discovered in the Baths of Constantine and erected on the Quirinale by Domenico Fontana under Pope Sixtus V (1585-90). Today they are thought to be Roman copies after lost 4th Century B.C. Greek originals. They were attributed, from misleading inscriptions made at the time of their reinstallation, as ‘Opus Phidiae’ and ‘Opus Praxitelis’. Fuseli’s drawings of 1770-9 were executed during his time in Rome (Schiff, nos. 634 and 636, illustrated with a view of the sculpture, II, p. 137). They gave rise to a large number of versions and many copies (e.g. Schiff, nos. 636 and 1826, illustrated II, pp. 137 and 596) and other studies (Christie’s, London, 14 April 1992, lots 47 and 48). For another drawing based on the Dioscuri see lot 91.