Monumental Hellenistic Terracotta Panel of a Fountain with Athena and Herakles

Culture: Greek/South Italy

Period: 2nd century B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 54 cm x 38.5 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 2270

Provenance: Collection W. Rosenbaum, Ascona prior to 1984. Thence in the Galleria Serodine, Ascona. Acquired from the latter on 8 May 1999 by a Swiss private collection.

Condition: Intact

Description: Front of a terracotta fountain with a very sculptural relief with many details, depicting on the left Athena, on the right Herakles and in the centre a wild boar’s head, whose wide open mouth serves as a gargoyle. Athena wears a helmet decorated with feathers, underneath her centre-parted hair can be seen. The smiling goddess with earrings and aegis, behind her left shoulder the spear crossing diagonally the scene. Herakles also with a smiling expression wears the Nemean lion’s pelt over his head and tied in front of his chest. His club is raised diagonally over his right shoulder. Below the wild boar’s head with large ears, wide open eyes and the spouting mouth. The fur worked out in details. A very rare architectural fountain part, possibly from South Italy. Accompanied by a TL-test.