The passions and excesses of the Greek mythological gods are the theme of this sculpture. A lecherous centaur attempts to capture a wood nymph atop a base inscribed with scenes of satyrs chasing maenads, all followers of the wine god Bacchus. Sculptor Paul Manship moderated the intense subject by emphasizing pattern and stylization, such as the repetition of the dryad’s hair, radiating forms of her drapery, and the centaur’s curly beard.
Manship worked almost exclusively in bronze, feeling that it lent itself best “to silhouette, to elaboration of detail, and to open space and projecting parts.”
1915 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from the artist [1]
Notes:
[1] The Museum purchased "Centaur and Dryad" along with a group of other sculptures by Paul Manship (73:1915, 75:1915, and 76:1915) following an exhibition of the artist's work at the Museum. Receipt dated April 1,1915 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control, April 9, 1915.
