BRONZE "HERMES ADJUSTING HIS SANDAL" AFTER THE ANTIQUE

A bronze statue with a brown patina depicting Hermes (or Mercury in Roman mythology), messenger of the gods, pausing to adjust his sandal. An athletic young man, he wears a winged headdress and winged shoes and holds the caduceus. The bronze is inspired by an ancient 2nd-century statuette: "The god Hermes (Mercury) adjusting his sandal," known as "Cincinnatus," discovered in the 16th century in the Theatre of Marcellus in Rome. The marble statue represents the god Hermes with the features of Cincinnatus, the famous Roman politician, consul, and dictator of the Republic. The marble, made after a Greek original, is housed in the Louvre Museum. Our bronze figure rests on a circular base of Vert-de-Mer marble. 19th century, circa 1890. Dimensions: W: 17.5 cm, D: 17.5 cm, H: 62 cm. In very good condition.