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Description
An exceptional and increasingly scarce pair of antique Italian carved marble mythological sculptures, traditionally attributed to the Florentine workshop of …
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An exceptional and increasingly scarce pair of antique Italian carved marble mythological sculptures, traditionally attributed to the Florentine workshop of Antonio Frilli (Italian, 1860–1920), after celebrated classical prototypes.
The pair depicts two of antiquity's most dramatic heroic subjects:
Hercules and Diomedes, illustrating Hercules' Eighth Labor as he overpowers the Thracian king, and Menelaus Carrying the Body of Patroclus, one of the most powerful episodes from Homer's Iliad. These compositions have long been admired for their dynamic movement, anatomical precision, and emotional intensity, making them enduring favorites among Grand Tour collectors and connoisseurs of classical sculpture.
Executed in finely carved white marble, each sculpture displays remarkable attention to musculature, expressive facial modeling, and deeply carved drapery. Viewed together, the pair forms an impressive decorative and scholarly ensemble that reflects the revival of classical sculpture produced by the finest Italian workshops during the late nineteenth century.
While individual examples of these subjects occasionally appear on the market, finding the two companion works together as a matched pair is exceptionally uncommon. Their survival as a set significantly enhances both their decorative impact and their desirability among collectors.
Each sculpture retains its original marble base and exhibits the luminous surface and subtle translucency associated with quality Italian marble carving.
A striking acquisition for collectors of Grand Tour sculpture, classical antiquities, museum-quality decorative arts, or refined traditional interiors.
Sold only as a pair.
Hercules and Diomedes: 10.25" H × 5" W × 3.5" D
Menelaus Carrying the Body of Patroclus: 10.75" H × 6.25" W × 4" D
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- Dimensions
- 6.25ʺW × 4ʺD × 10.75ʺH
- Styles
- Italian
- Art Subjects
- Figure
- Period
- Late 19th Century
- Country of Origin
- Italy
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Marble
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- White
- Condition Notes
- Good antique condition consistent with age and use. Beautifully carved and well-preserved overall with minor surface wear, scattered small edge … moreGood antique condition consistent with age and use. Beautifully carved and well-preserved overall with minor surface wear, scattered small edge abrasions, and light marble discoloration commensurate with age. One sculpture retains an old, stable repair to the base, while the Menelaus Carrying the Body of Patroclus group has a small loss to part of Patroclus' foot. Both sculptures remain structurally sound and display exceptionally well, with the noted imperfections serving as expected evidence of their age and history. less
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