Bronze “Flying Mercury” With Lily Torch, After Giambologna, Italy, 19th Century.

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An unusual and highly decorative Italian 19th-century patinated and gilt-bronze sculpture of Flying Mercury, after the celebrated Renaissance model by … Read more An unusual and highly decorative Italian 19th-century patinated and gilt-bronze sculpture of Flying Mercury, after the celebrated Renaissance model by Giambologna (1529–1608) on acrylic base.
Mercury, the Roman messenger of the gods, is captured in the celebrated airborne pose associated with Giambologna's Mercurio Volante: his elongated athletic figure balances dramatically on the toes of one foot, creating the illusion of effortless upward movement. Giambologna developed several versions of the composition during the 16th century, and the celebrated monumental version of circa 1580 is preserved in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence.
This 19th-century interpretation is particularly distinctive for its two-tone bronze treatment. Mercury's figure is rendered in a deep, nearly black patina, dramatically contrasted by the elaborate gilt-bronze flowering lily torch held aloft in his raised hand. The torch takes the form of a sinuous botanical stem culminating in a fully modeled lily blossom and additional foliate ornament, giving the classical composition an unusually decorative character.
Dimensions:
33.25 in. H × 6.25 in. W × 14.75 in. D See less