{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O349739"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O349739/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O349739","accessionNumber":"A.23-1979","objectType":"Group","titles":[{"title":"Nessus and Deianira","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This sculpture represents Nessus and Deianira and is made by Francesco Fanelli. Little is known about Francesco Fanelli (b: 1577 - d: last documented London 1641). Fanelli was first documented in Genoa in 1608, where, until about 1631, he produced religious works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze. By 1635, he was working at the English court. Although he described himself 'sculptor to the King of Great Britain', it is unclear whether this title was officially conferred. The V&A owns versions of several small bronzes by 'ffrancisco the one-eyed Italian' listed in an inventory of Whitehall Palace in 1639. George Vertue stated that Fanelli 'lv'd and dyd in England'; he is last documented in 1641 and believed to have died soon after.\r\n\r\nThis popular theme from ancient Greek mythology is one of the tales recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Having offered to carry Hercules and his wife Deianira across the river Euenos, the centaur Nessus took advantage of the situation to ravish Deianira. Hercules, observing the scene from the river bank, drew his bow and fired an arrow, which pierced the centaur's chest.","physicalDescription":"Nessus lifts Deianira off the ground and onto his left shoulder. With her right arm, Deianira pushes against Nessus. Her left arm is raised above her head.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Fanelli, Francesco","id":"A8376"},"association":{"text":"after","id":"THES283471"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lead","id":"AAT11022"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast lead","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES396150"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Group","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"21.27","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought through Christie's, for £999.04 (Departmental Fund), in 1979.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Group, Nessus and Deianira, lead, after a model by Francesco Fanelli (1577-after 1641), Anglo-Italian, cast possibly England (London), 18th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Anglo-Italian","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Nessus","id":"N3586"},{"text":"Deianira","id":"N3585"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.23-1979"],"accessionNumberNum":"23","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1979,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-10","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}