Artwork
Ancient Sculptures with a Cock Fighting a Snake
Ancient Sculptures with a Cock Fighting a Snake is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist James 'Athenian' Stuart. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ancient Sculptures with a Cock Fighting a Snake is a drawing by James 'Athenian' Stuart, created in 1750 using graphite on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a ruined stone structure with a relief sculpture on a pedestal, alongside a cock fighting a snake on a plinth. The cock and snake motif symbolizes the struggle between good and evil, conveying a powerful symbolic meaning despite its relatively small size.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by detailed rendering, capturing the weathering of the stone and the textures of the relief sculpture and the cock and snake scene.
Artist & collection
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