
© Estate of Mirko
Image downloads are for educational use only. For all other purposes, please see our Obtaining and Using Images page.

© Estate of Mirko
Image downloads are for educational use only. For all other purposes, please see our Obtaining and Using Images page.


Mirko
Italian, 1910-1969
Chimera, ca. 1953-1960
bronze
overall: 36 1/2 x 28 x 11 inches (92.71 x 71.12 x 27.94 cm)
Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bunshaft in memory of Mr. and Mrs. David Bunshaft, 1958
1958:4
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Information may change due to ongoing research.Glossary of Terms
During the 1950s, Mirko created numerous poetic interpretations of ancient sculptural forms in copper, brass, and bronze. The chimera is a monstrous fire-breathing creature from Greek mythology and believed to be an omen for disaster. It is often described as having the features of several different animals—for instance, a lion’s head, a goat’s torso, and a snake’s tail—and the term can also refer to anything made up of disparate parts to create something dazzling or implausible. Many sculptural examples of such beasts exist in ancient art history. Yet in his work, Mirko does not strictly adhere to the formal qualities of these preexisting examples. His chimera creatures are as humorous and delightful as they are perplexing and, at times, terrifying.
Label from Menagerie: Animals on View, March 11–June 4, 2017
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