Hares hunter. Sculptural group of Cerrillo Blanco (Porcuna, Jaén, Spain)

This highlighting contains three figures in different planes. In the background is carved a dog, on him a hunter, almost in round bundle, and on this one a hare. The dog and the hunter march to the right, with the left leg of the forward hunter and the right flexed. The dog has also advanced the right rear leg and flexed the left, keeping the two front claws at almost the same height and the head turned towards the front, as if standing and looking at the front, feeling that also gives the hunter having the body almost in front and not completely in profile. The hunter wears a short robe with a “V” neckline in front and behind, short sleeves up to the elbow and slack fold in the crotch. The robe is belted. The dog would have an open mouth, the hare is held tightly by the hunter’s right hand and hangs along his body and up to his knees, where he rests his head, suspended by his long hind legs. The forelegs are shorter and pointed in front of the neck and head. It presents a small tail that is well carved, as well as the right ear. This relief lacks the head and neck of the hunter and part of the right arm and shoulder, the elbow, the left hand from the wrist, part of the right leg from the calf and the foot of which we only have two whole fingers and the remaining ones have been kept quite crushed stuck to the base. From the hare is missing the muzzle, part of the right ear and the body that is broken; equally we find crushed the long hind legs. From the dog that is part of the sculptural group, the upper part of the head is missing, the two front legs almost from the start of the same to the claws that are carved on the base. The hind legs are missing, the right from the hamstring and the left until its end. From the block on which are carved the figures are missing some lascas next to the ruptures of the lower part. Chronology: 440-400 B.C. Dimensions Height = 80 cm Width = 60 cm This scene belongs to the sculptural group of Cerrillo Blanco, found in 1975 in the municipality of Porcuna (Jaén). This set constitutes nowadays the most important Iberian sculptural group of the known so far. It is composed of more than forty pieces that represent heroic struggles of men with each other or men with animals, hunting scenes, images of fantastic animals or important characters. Specifically, it is part of the youth initiation group. This group is formed by two scenes of hunting and one of palestra. The three groups are presented as a relief on a background that serves as a tectonic support to the group. The upper part of the characters, which correspond mainly to the bust, are made in a round bundle. The three scenes are defined by their essentially demonstrative character, of presentation. It is clear that his intention is to manifest virtue, to show himself after the feat. - Hunter with hare. - Partridge hunter. It is also shown frontally. It highlights the size of the hung birds, whose peaks are rummaged. The young man marches and seems to stop sharply. The tapes that stick his belt reflect the inertia of the movement. Possibly he turns his face, almost frontal to back. The dog jumps up his forelegs and turns his head sharply, implauding his neck, attentive to the master. Pugilists: Both opponents intertwine their arms and cross their legs. The feet are bare. The scene is a display of movement and argues. Probably the skill, and not the simple force is the dominant virtue of the contest. The male on the left tries to put a zancadilla to his opponent and turn it over. This one holds onto the companion belt. Hands intertwine. The faces turn to the spectator, they break decisively the frame of the action, they leave it to introduce us to the ideal sphere of the representation. Currently the sculptures from Cerrillo Blanco can be visited in the Provincial Museum of Jaén and the archeological site in Porcuna (Jaén) is also visible, since it is one of the stops of the cultural route “Journey to the time of the Iberos” with which it is intended to value the iberas first level traces existing in the province of Jaén. Bibliography: Chapa, T. (2015): “Los escultores del Cerrillo Blanco de Porcuna,” in A. Ruiz y M. Molinos (coord.): Jaén, ibera land. 40 years of research and transfer. University of Jaén. Jaén. Olmos, R. (2002): “The sculptural groups of Cerrillo Blanco de Porcuna (Jaén). A convergent iconographic reading essay.” Spanish Archive of Archaeology, 75 107-122. Ruiz, A. and Molinos, M. (2015): “The sculptural group of Cerrillo Blanco, Porcuna,” in A. Ruiz and M. Molinos (Eds.): Jaén, Iberian land 40 Years of research and transfer. University of Jaén. 67-84. Torrecillas, J. F. (1985): The late period cemetery of Cerrillo Blanco. Institute of Giennenses Studies. Jaén.