Leonardo’s “Horse That Never Was” would have assured his unparalleled reputation as a sculptor. This is the romantic story of Leonardo’s unfulfilled passion, the resurrection of the idea by Charles C. Dent, and the gift of The Horse to the people of Italy.
Leonardo's Horse (also known as Gran Cavallo) is a sculpture that was commissioned of Leonardo da Vinci in 1482 by Duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro, but not completed.It was intended to be the largest equestrian statue in the world, a monument to the duke's father Francesco.
The correct name of the gigantic horse is "Il cavallo dello Sforza" (meaning: The horse of the Sforza) however it is referred by many names, depending on where it is located – 'Il cavallo', 'Leonardo's horse', 'The American Horse', 'The Sforza Horse', and 'The Sforza Monument' etc.
By 1997, Tallix Art Foundry, in Beacon, New York, the company contracted by LDVHI to cast the horse, had suggested bringing Nina Akamu, a talented animal sculptor, on board to attempt to correct the anatomical faults of the Dent-Herrick horse.
Garden Sculpture Art Horse Sculpture Bronze Sculpture Leonardo Da Vinci Horse Anatomy Horse Crafts Equine Art Horse Art Amazing Art Forward The sculpture of a horse by Nina Akamu, inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci's designs, at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Horse Sculpture Modern Sculpture Abstract Sculpture Bronze Sculpture Animal Sculptures Horse Head Drawing Horse Drawings Equine Art Barn Plans Forward Jonathan Knight sculpture commissioned for the Four Seasons Hotel London, Park Lane.
Leonardo’s genius extended across painting, to sculpture, drawing, architecture, engineering, music, cartography, botany, to a prescient ability to forsee and design many machines and mechanical concepts, centuries in advance of his time.
Leonardo's horse would have had an elaborate rider which would account for some of the difference. The horse came about after amateur sculptor Charles Dent saw some copies of Leonardo's sketches which were rediscovered in Spain in 1966.
Leonardo's horse topic Leonardo's Horse (also known as Gran Cavallo ) is a sculpture that was commissioned of Leonardo da Vinci in 1482 by Duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro , but not completed.
Over the centuries the wax sculpture has sustained damage, including the loss of one of the horse's legs, along with the rider's feet and hands. On the horse's chest is an embedded print of a right thumb, believed to be Leonardo's. Attribution The sculpture was attributed to Leonardo da Vinci by Italian art historian Carlo Pedretti , mainly due to
Material: The material of the statue is then decided by the client. The sculptor may also use a small clay model to better portray his conception of the design. The clay model can be modified to fine tune the client’s wishes.
Mini-Sculpture: Finally, the bronze sculpture artist may finalize the miniature model of the final design in order to give the client a preview into how the final product will look. This model is made using the material decided, and it can be used by the client for marketing purposes so that he can raise funds for the sculpture.
Creating the Backbone: The backbone of the bronze statue, also called the armature consists of a steel frame with foam added to it in order to resemble the rough outline of the final product. This is then sealed with a latex coat to secure it.
The Sculpting: The main work starts only now. Many pounds of hot clay are used and applied by hand to “block in” the design for the first time. The bronze sculpture artist then invests a lot of time adding more clay, removing some clay and molding the clay until the final product finally resembles the required design. Tiny details are added on to give more preciseness to the bronze statue and make it more real.
Remove dust with a damp cloth.
Do not use metal objects or wire brushes to clean the sculpture.
Do not apply abrasives or cleansers that will possibly scratch the finish.
ZUD – Non- Abrasive Cleaner. Use to remove stubborn stains. Zud cleans all metal surfaces including bronze. Zud can be used in powder or liquid form.
Lemon Oil – Apply a small amount of oil with a paintbrush or soft cloth. Cover the entire figure with oil. Wipe the surface gently with a soft cloth to take off the excess oil.
Paste Wax- A very thin, even coat of wax should be applied with a soft cloth. Allow the wax to sit and dry before polishing. Wax should be applied after bronze has been cleaned and dried. Do not apply if using lemon oil.
Do Nothing: Many bronze owners prefer to sit back and enjoy the natural reaction and aging process of their sculpture.
What kind of sculpture is right for me?
We have a tremendous inventory of existing designs and unique items that we have been collecting for many years. After reviewing the website, Contact Us if you are unable to find what you are looking for.
Ancient Sculpture Gallery is proud to present you with lost wax bronze reproductions of statues and busts from the Egyptian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Asian Oriental, and Western civilizations. “Lost Wax” bronze (or hot-cast bronze) is actually 100% pure Bronze – essentially copper and tin. The making of a “lost wax” bronze is a complex and time consuming process, and specific technical expertise is needed to accomplish the task of making a bronze. The most known and used process for making “lost wax” involves pouring of molten bronze. This is the same method used by the ancient civilizations to create bronze sculptures. Our lost wax bronze sculptures are produced in this same technique.