Amazon Preparing for Battle (Queen Antiope or Hippolyta?), or Armed Venus

Pierre-Eugène-Emile Hébert

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a female warrior figure in a dynamic pose. She wears a helmet with a tall crest in the shape of waves and two large flaps by her ears that give the impression of large, pointed ears. She is seated with one knee slightly raised and is shown stringing a large bow that goes from her shoulders all the way down to her feet. Her body faces us, but her face is turned to the left, looking down at the bow. She has a straight nose, arched eyebrows, and high cheekbones. She is wearing a draped dress and sandals. The sculpture is a dark brown color with some areas of slightly lighter brown, and it reflects the light. It is positioned on a low, flat base of the same material.