This striking Bronze in the style of Benin, represents an upright sitting Portuguese soldier. He wears a finely worked chain armour with shoulder protection over a shirt decorated with large and small squares, knee-length trousers and low shoes. Around his neck hangs a rosary-like thick chain with a cross. His left hand is closed around an object which is lost, the right hand holds a musket whose barrel has broken off. The buttocks of the soldier are outstretching and he is sitting on a cylindrical chair with a "here I am and here I will stay" habit. On his head sits a round helmet with zigzag decoration at the edge. The Portuguese has a full beard, which reaches from the nostrils down to the chest. The mouth with the grimly drawn-down corners looks as if it is set on the beard, which only underlines the sinister expression. The nose is long and sharp-edged with a pointed end, the eyes are bordered by bulging eyelids and the small, close-fitting ears are set wide at the back of the head. The soldier has a bull's neck and under the helmet no hair sticks out. The artist has really used all physiognomic means to make the Portuguese soldier look powerful and imperious - and not exactly likeable; greenish oxidised patina of different encrusted layers; TL Analysis 500 years (+/-18,5 percent)

Lit.: Ezra, K. 1992. Royal Art of Benin: the Perls Collection. Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, US. Bacquart, J. 1998. The Tribal Arts of Africa. Thames and Hudson, UK. Phillips, T. (ed). 1999. Africa: The Art of a Continent. Prestel, exhibited 1.8.23 - 15.10.23 Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery Berlin.

sold

Height: 50,5 cm
Weight: 9 kg

Bronze head of a Portugese soldier, amother object exhibited, 1.8.23 - 15.10.23 Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery Berlin.

Portuguese, Digital Benin, Pit Rivers Museum, former Perls Collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 16, 1992–September 13,1992.