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This bronze group was executed after a model by Giambologna. The first documented example of this was made by Giambologna between 1575 and 1577 for the Salviati family of Florence. Understandably popular, variants of this model were produced over and over by assistants and followers of Giambologna, among them Adriaen de Vries and Pietro Tacca. Many of the variants were made during his lifetime and with his approval.
According to legend, the centaur Nessus tried to abduct Hercules's wife, Deianira, after offering her a ride across a turbulent river. For his treachery, Hercules killed Nessus with an arrow. The explosive outward movement of the sculpted figures is tightly contained by equally dynamic forces twisting in midair as the two struggle against each other: the terrified Deianira straining back toward her husband while the centaur leaps forward.
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