CA0403 Grand Tour Bronze Etruscan Hercules

Fascinating, enigmatic, probably Grand Tour bronze statue of an Etruscan style Hercules. Very similar to the resting 'Heracle' (Hercules) from Poggio Castiglione, Massa Marittima, discovered in 1783 and now in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Florence. This version is larger and slightly different as it may once have held a club. Many similarities to some smaller votive statues of the Etruscan period. Originally aquired from a London auction house where it was described as 'pre 17th century, after the antique'. This classical depiction of a naked Hercules dressed only in a lion skin was revisited for portraits of emperors' during the Roman period so it could be earlier or based on a statue from that period that I have been unable to identify. So we are erring on the side of caution and dating it as 18th or early 19th century Grand Tour copy of an unidentified Roman, probably marble, statue of Hercules. Beautiful patination, erosion to feet typical of very old original roman period bronzes. Presented on a later academic wooden socle base.

H 59cm x W24cm x D 20cm

Price on request