This early 16th Century piece of 'art' was created from descriptions in letters written about a diplomatic gift that was later, unsucessfully, passed on to a pope. Despite it's inaccuracies, it has had profound influence on the arts, inspiring a mid 20th Century sculpture by a European artist. What is it and what became of the gift?

supersal1

This was Durer's rhinoceros. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCrer's_Rhinoceros It drowned in a shipwreck en route from Portugal to Rome. It inspired Salvador Dali's 1956 sculpture Rinoceronte Vesitdo Con Puntillas. http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425108945/424150379/salvador-dali-rhinoceros-dressed-in-lace.html Jul 20 07, 2:21 AM

wendypj

Well done supersal. Amazing what the mind can conjure up from hearing someone else's description of something, isn't it? Jul 20 07, 3:50 AM

supersal1

I don't know about the mind, but my googling skills are certainly improving! If I'd have read that Q&A in a quiz I wouldn't have remembered it. As it is Durer's/Dali's rhinoceros will be with me to the grave. Jul 20 07, 4:40 AM