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Armento Rider

Armento Rider is a Greek ancient bronze statuette in the British Museum, inventory number GR 1904.7-3.1. Also known as the mounted warrior or Bronze horse and rider, it was found in Armento and purchased in 1904 from the Forman collection. The bronze is almost intact and covered with a patina. The horse and detachable rider are separately modelled and cast in solid bronze. The rider is shown as a young beardless man wearing a short belted chiton and a helmet enclosing the whole head, decorated with engraved lotus flowers. The bridle is missing. It is a notable example of Corinthian-style Greek bronze art from the 6th century BC.

Armento Rider bronze statuette of a helmeted rider on a horse, shown on a clear stand.
The Armento Rider, a small bronze statuette of a helmeted rider mounted on a horse.
February 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Armento Rider bronze figurine of a helmeted warrior mounted on a horse-like animal, shown in side profile against a gray background.
The Armento Rider, a bronze statuette of a mounted warrior shown in profile.
· CC BY-SA 3.0
Armento Rider bronze figurine of a mounted warrior on a clear display base
The Armento Rider bronze figurine shown on display in a museum setting.
February 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Armento Rider sculpture of a helmeted rider on a horse, shown frontally.
The Armento Rider, a metallic sculpture of a mounted helmeted figure.
August 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bronze Armento Rider statuette of an armored warrior on horseback, shown in close-up with the horse’s head blurred in the foreground.
The Armento Rider bronze statuette shown in close-up, with an armored warrior seated on horseback.
January 2016 © Ashley Van Haeften · CC BY 2.0

Identification

TitleArmento Rider
Alternative nameThe Riding Warrior; Bronze horse and rider
TypeGreek ancient bronze statuette

Historical context

Datec. 560–550 BC

Creator

Artistic styleGreek bronze art of the 6th century BC, Corinthian type

Discovery and provenance

FindspotArmento, southern Italy
Initial attributionOriginally wrongly attributed to Grumentum
CollectorGábor Fejérváry, a Hungarian collector
Purchased by collectorBought in Naples in 1833
Former collectionForman Collection
Acquisition by museumAcquired by the British Museum in 1904
Provenance notePassed through several collections before acquisition by the British Museum

Physical characteristics

ConstructionHorse and detachable rider are made as two separate pieces
ConditionAlmost undamaged and covered with a patina
Dimensions/typeDiminutive statue

Technique

CastingSolid cast

Materials

MaterialBronze

Appearance

Depicted subjectA rider and a horse
Depicted figureA young beardless Greek warrior
HelmetCorinthian helmet decorated with engraved lotus flowers
ClothingShort belted chiton
Horse descriptionHorse with a long mane and elongated body
Missing attributesBridle missing; formerly held a spear and reins for the horse

Location and ownership

Current locationBritish Museum
Inventory numberGR 1904.7-3.1

Significance

Art historical significanceConsidered one of the oldest works of art from Western Greece or Magna Graecia
Historical significanceOne of the earliest bronzes produced in the ancient Greek world

Other

Discovery and attribution statusFirst discovered with an incorrect attribution; later revised based on recent research
Correct origin according to recent researchArmento, an ancient Greek site in Basilicata, southern Italy