Saint Daniel of Padua dragged by a horse before the Roman governor of Padua
ca. 1740–50
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 19 5/8 × 29 1/4 × 4 1/2 in., 51 lb. (49.8 × 74.3 × 11.4 cm, 23.1 kg)
Classification
Sculpture-Bronze
Culture
Italian, Padua
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edith Perry Chapman Fund and Fletcher Fund, 1970
Accession Number
1970.264.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This dramatic bronze relief, titled *Saint Daniel of Padua Dragged by a Horse Before the Roman Governor of Padua*, was created around 1740–50 by Italian sculptors Tiziano Aspetti Francesco Bertos from Padua. Measuring nearly 30 inches wide and weighing over 50 pounds, this substantial work exemplifies the Venetian-Paduan tradition of intricate bronze casting, a medium prized for its durability and ability to capture fine details in dynamic compositions. The scene depicts the martyrdom of Saint, a 4th-century bishop of Padua, viciously dragged by a horse in front of a Roman governor—a vivid po...