A BRONZE FIGURE OF THE FLYING MERCURY

Details

A BRONZE FIGURE OF THE FLYING MERCURY
CAST FROM A MODEL BY GIAMBOLOGNA, FLORENTINE, EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Formed as a fountain, the Messenger of the Gods in flight above the head of Zephyrus, his right arm lifted, his left arm drawn back holding the caduceus (left helmet wing tip and caduceus missing) ----- 27¼in.(69.2cm.) high, together with modern glass basin and fountain motor, olive brown patina

Provenance

Michael Hall, New York

Literature

C. Avery and A. Radcliffe, Giambologna: Sculptor to the Medici, Art Council of Great Britain (exhibition catalogue), London, 1978, no. 35
C. Avery, Giambologna: The Complete Sculpture, Oxford/New York, 1987, p. 261, cat. no. 72

Lot Essay

This is an unpublished cast of the celebrated second, revised composition of the Flying Mercury (22½ in. - 57 cm. high) that was produced by Giambologna himself for Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma, in 1579 (Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, inv. no. 10784). This bronze established the form in which the Mercury was later reproduced on a small scale in the workshop. The present bronze is also closely related to the 1580 composition of the Medici Mercury (Bargello, Florence) which was conceived as a large fountain with a bronze putto head below Mercury's foot. This motif not only adds to the sense of movement, but also serves as the source of water.