{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O123955"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O123955/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JR5921/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JR5921/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JR5921","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JR5917","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JR5918","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JR5919","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JR5920","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O123955/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O123955","accessionNumber":"1279-1886","objectType":"Group","titles":[{"title":"Combat between two mounted knights","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Combat de Charles Martel et d’Abdérame, roi des Sarrasins ","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Théodore Gechter exhibited ‘Combat de Charles Martel et d’Abdérame, roi des Sarrasins’ in plaster at the Salon in 1833 (no 2589). He was commissioned to cast this in bronze by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and this was cast with the lost wax technique by H. Gonon et his two sons in 1833 (sculpture now at the Louvre Museum, Paris, ref. ENT.1991.11, h. 0.62m; l. 0.54m). This V&A bronze is a version of the Louvre sculpture. \r\n\r\nThe subject is taken from the Battle of Tours (aka Battle of Poitiers), fought on October 10, 732 between forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel and a massive invading Islamic army led by Emir Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi Abd al Rahman. The Franks were victorious and Emir Abd er Rahman was killed. The importance of the battle is debated but in the 19th century it was firmly seen as decisive in halting the northward advance of Islam from Spain, and preserving Christianity as the controlling faith in Europe. The final combat between the leaders had great appeal for Gechter with his tendency for a Romantic depiction of historical events. \r\n\r\nTrained in the conventions of Neoclassical sculpture, Théodore Gechter later rejected 'ideal' subjects in this style for bronze groups illustrating medieval and particularly chivalrous themes in a dramatic and romantic manner. During this period interest in such subjects was reflected in the collecting of medieval sculpture in France. He also produced bronzes of animals during the 1830s. Gechter exhibited in Paris 1824-40 and collaborated in the execution of friezes for the Arc de Triomphe, the major public sculpture project of the decade, sculpting a large-scale relief of the Battle of Austerlitz (for which he was awarded the Legion d’Honneur).","physicalDescription":"Bronze group showing a combat between two mounted knights","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Honoré Gonon","id":"AUTH358073"},"association":{"text":"founder","id":"AAT25303"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2017JR5921","2017JR5917","2017JR5918","2017JR5919","2017JR5920"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES396127"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Group","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1835-40","earliest":"1830-01-01","latest":"1840-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Made after the plaster of this subject exhibited in 1833, and the first bronze also 1833"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Dixon Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"38.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Dixon Bequest","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bronze group ('Combat between two mounted knights') by Théodore Gechter, Paris, about 1835-1840.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1886.</u> London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1887. pp.135"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"knight","id":"AAT230874"},{"text":"horse","id":"x34864"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'\r\n\r\nTrained in the conventions of neo-classical sculpture, Jean François Théodore Gechter later rejected 'ideal' subjects in this style for bronze groups illustrating medieval themes in a dramatic and romantic manner. During this period interest in such subjects was reflected in the collection of medieval sculpture in France. Gechter also produced bronzes of animals during the 1830s and collaborated in the execution of friezes for the Arc de Triomphe, the major public sculpture project of the decade.","date":{"text":"1987-2006","earliest":"1987-01-01","latest":"2006-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["1279-1886"],"accessionNumberNum":"1279","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1886,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-13","recordCreationDate":"2006-05-16","availableToBook":true}}