Roman Bronze Statuette of a Young Hercules

£ 225.00

A very fine small Roman bronze statuette of the demi-god Hercules, depicted standing with his club resting on his shoulder. A rare depiction of the hero in his youth, his pose is relaxed, with gently bent legs and lowered shoulders. The anatomical composition here is fluid and excellently crafted, bestowing an ease and confidence to the figure evocative of the demi-god and his exceptional abilities. He is clothed in a kilt, adorned with layers and supported by a strap across the torso. His left arm reaches behind him, while his right arm bends upwards to steady the end of his club. The face, though worn, is clean-shaven – a typical suggestion of youth in ancient art – and features a calm expression as he gazes slightly to his left. The bronze features a lovely dark patination and some minor wear and encrustations to the surface. The figurine is fixed to a custom-made base via a metal stem.

Base Measurements: L 5cm x W 5cm x H 1.1cm

NB: Measurements below are for the figurine only.

Date: Circa 3rd Century AD
Provenance: From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Condition: Very good. The feet are now missing. Some wear to the surface consistent with age.

In stock

SKU: KW-104 Category: Tags: ,

In Ancient Roman mythology, Hercules (or Herakles in Greek culture) was famed for his strength, as well as for his far-ranging adventures. Together with the lion skin, the club was the main attribute of Hercules, conveying his exceptional strength and success against the odds. Widely considered to be the greatest of Greco-Roman heroes, Hercules is often depicted with a heightened masculine physique. As punishment for the frenzied killing of his family, Hercules was ordered to undertake twelve labours, a feat which became his most notable tale. One such task was the conquest of the Nemean lion, whose pelt became a staple in Herculean depictions. Its absence here communicates Hercules’ youth, as he has yet to encounter this challenge.

Hercules’ rugged depiction belongs to a common heroic archetype in antiquity characterised by physical strength and animalistic traits, but also striking humanity. Precedents include the Mesopotamian heroes Gilgamesh and Enkidu, who embody the notions of the ‘civilised’ and ‘animalistic’ hero respectively, and communicate an ancient fascination with the duality of man as well as mankind’s position among nature and divinity.

To find out more about Roman gods, please visit our relevant blog posts: Roman Gods in Mythology.

Weight 86.85 g
Dimensions W 2.3 x H 4 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Roman Mythology

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