Amazon on Horseback, 1897 (casting before 1906)

About the Work

Ready to kill, the naked Amazon jerks back the head of her horse at full gallop in order to hurl her spear at the enemy with all her strength. Whether classical elegance prevails over combative drama depends on which side the sculpture is viewed from. In his best-known statuette, which also exists as a large sculpture, Franz von Stuck links the clear formal language of antiquity with a passionate expression and powerful movement. The Amazon also appears several times in his paintings as a dominant, warlike type of woman.