Joaquin Ferrer

JOAQUÍN FERRER (Castellón, 1749-1873).
"Lion attacking a horse".
Terracotta.
Presents breakage seated.
Measurements: 30 x 30 x 26 cm.
Terracotta sculpture inspired by a bronze sculpture by Antonio Susini, c. 1580, which in turn is part of a work by Giovanni Bologna. The Prado Museum has a piece of the same subject and similar dimensions attributed to Joaquín Ferrer. Of which the Museum cites "The group stands on a circular base formed only by a series of smooth moldings and the floor is a series of rocks dotted with flowers and leaves in relief carved exquisitely; the horse has been knocked to the ground before the thrust of the beast that tears the skin of his back, while he turns his head crazed by the pain to bite his enemy. The Count of Casal attributes these groups to the sculptor Joaquín Ferrer, given that one of those that are conserved bears the name of Ferrer and the date of 1789, so it would belong to the end of the second stage of the Alcora factory. Many replicas were made, some in earthenware and others in bisque; there are examples in the National Archaeological Museum and in the collection of the Marqués de la Calzada".

Joaquín Ferrer was a sculptor and ceramist from Alcora. Following the words of the Royal Academy of History "The War of Independence (1808-1814) made fashionable some sculptural groups of animals in fighting attitude, some made years before under the artistic direction of Ferrer himself, such as the famous group showing a lion devouring a horse (which the war against the French transformed into a lion attacking an eagle with clear patriotic symbolism), which he adapted to ceramics inspired by the bronze of Giovanni Bologna (1529-1608). The "fights of all kinds" showing various animals in hostile or fighting attitude, where the famous group of Ferrer would be framed, continued to be manufactured in 1825, as they are listed in a sample of the factory that same year, as well as models that glorify, with his bust, the return to the throne in 1814 of the desired Ferdinand VII.