Lot Essay
For a related candelabrum with a herm, now in the National Museum of Naples, see pls. 187-188 in L.P.B. Stefanelli, Il Bronzo dei Romani.
.jpg?w=1)
THE PROPERTY OF A NEW JERSEY PRIVATE COLLECTOR
A ROMAN BRONZE HERM OF HERCULES
CIRCA LATE 2ND-EARLY 3RD CENTURY A.D.
Details
A ROMAN BRONZE HERM OF HERCULES
CIRCA LATE 2ND-EARLY 3RD CENTURY A.D.
Possibly from the stand of a candelabrum, hollow on the interior, the tapering shaft surmounted by the youthful hero fully modelled to the hips, tightly swathed in his lionskin, covering both hands and exposing his genitals, the feline head on his left shoulder, his arms bent, holding the legs of the lion pelt, the other feline legs and the tail each descending down a corner of the shaft, his head turned sharply to his left, with short wavy locks, his furrowed brow and beardless face perhaps inspired by images of the Emperor Caracalla, the head surmounted by a circular cushion, the base of the shaft ornamented with acanthus
9 3/8 in. (24.4 cm.) high
CIRCA LATE 2ND-EARLY 3RD CENTURY A.D.
Possibly from the stand of a candelabrum, hollow on the interior, the tapering shaft surmounted by the youthful hero fully modelled to the hips, tightly swathed in his lionskin, covering both hands and exposing his genitals, the feline head on his left shoulder, his arms bent, holding the legs of the lion pelt, the other feline legs and the tail each descending down a corner of the shaft, his head turned sharply to his left, with short wavy locks, his furrowed brow and beardless face perhaps inspired by images of the Emperor Caracalla, the head surmounted by a circular cushion, the base of the shaft ornamented with acanthus
9 3/8 in. (24.4 cm.) high
Provenance
Antiquities and Islamic Works of Art, Sotheby's, New York, 30 May 1986, lot 48.
with Galerie Nina Borowski, Paris.
with Royal-Athena Galleries, New York, (Gods and Mortals, 1989, no. 87).
John W. Kluge, Charlottesville.
The Morven Collection of Ancient Art, Christie's, New York, 8 June 2004, lot 528.
The John W. Kluge Morven Collection, Christie's, New York, 16 December 2005, lot 436.
with Galerie Nina Borowski, Paris.
with Royal-Athena Galleries, New York, (Gods and Mortals, 1989, no. 87).
John W. Kluge, Charlottesville.
The Morven Collection of Ancient Art, Christie's, New York, 8 June 2004, lot 528.
The John W. Kluge Morven Collection, Christie's, New York, 16 December 2005, lot 436.
Literature
C.C. Vermeule and J.M. Eisenberg, Catalogue of the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Bronzes in the Collection of John Kluge, New York and Boston, 1992, no. 88-96.
If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.