This installation celebrated Walter A. and Vera Eberstadt's notable gift of Giovanni Francesco Susini's Lion Attacking a Horse and Leopard Attacking a Bull to The Frick Collection in 2002. The drawings, prints, books, and objects on display illustrated the subject of combating animals, as it was handed down from classical antiquity and transformed in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century art.
Small bronze sculptures like Susini's always evoked a rich history that inspired their makers and collectors alike. Visitors were encouraged to begin anywhere within this installation and acquaint themselves with themes such as the revival of antiquity, the spectacle of animal combat, and the tradition of collecting small bronzes.
Animals in Combat was drawn entirely from the rich sources in New York public collections and was made possible through these institutions' generous loans.
This exhibition was made possible through the generous support of the Helen Clay Frick Foundation and the Fellows of the Frick Collection.