Kampf der Lapithen und Kentauren

About this artwork

Josef Tautenhayn schuf diesen Schild im Auftrag des Kaisers für die Pariser Weltausstellung 1878 in Paris. – Eine alte Fotografie des Schildes befindet sich im Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 362mm × 322mm, Inv. Nr. RP-F-00-305.

Art Historical Context

The circular shield displays a densely populated battle scene rendered in high relief on a bronzed plaster surface. Muscular male figures, some fully human and others with equine bodies, clash dynamically across the surface, wielding swords, spears, and shields. Nude and draped forms twist in combat, with fallen warriors and raised weapons creating a sense of vigorous movement. At the center, a winged female figure sits within a decorative border, holding a staff and surrounded by a circular band of smaller relief motifs. Josef Tautenhayn der Ältere created this work in 1877 as a commission from the Emperor for display at the 1878 Paris World’s Fair. Titled *Kampf der Lapithen und Kentauren*, the piece depicts the mythological battle between the Lapiths and the centaurs, a subject drawn from ancient Greek legend. Now part of the Belvedere Collection in Vienna, the shield measures 82 centimeters in diameter and exemplifies the artist’s skill in translating classical themes into large-scale decorative metalwork for international exhibition.