Large Bronze Bust of Hercules

Culture: Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 14 cm x 12 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 3423

Provenance: Collection Mariaud de Serres, acquired prior to 2000. The estate auctioned at Christie's 16/17 February 2011, lot 417. Last in an US private collection.

Condition: Intact except for a tiny hole on the right bottom side of the beard, and of excellent quality.

Description: Large bronze bust of Hercules that once adorned an important Roman traveling chariot. Hercules wears a laurel wreath in his short, curly hair, he has a thick beard with broad shaggy hair. He has tied the fur of the Nemean lion around his shoulders, whose paws cross over the side of the chest. The face is expressively designed, with bulging brows, strong cheekbones and vertical forehead wrinkles that emphasize the tension. The eyes look awake under thick lids, the pupils are perforated. The bust rises from a calyx whose leaves frame it from below. On the back a rectangular, perforated attachment for mounting on the traveling chariot. On a high metal base.