Marble Lion, Périgord, 17th Century

Cerberus Black painted stone Italy, 17th century Measures: 80 x 69 x 36cm (one head missing) Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange, Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog Over the multitude immers'd beneath. His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard, His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs Piecemeal disparts (Dante, Inferno, Canto VI). Cerberus figure seated, in his role of ferocious guardian of the underworld; he shows a nervous musculature, an adherent skin which reveals the ribs, long and robust limbs; his heads are broad and the eyes set well apart. Painted in black to amplify his menacing look, the infernal guardian is depicted with his famous attributes, writhing his heads, growling and barking furiously. Cerberus, in Greek mythology, was the monstrous watchdog of the underworld – also known as the “hound of Hades” – preventing the dead from leaving, and making sure that those who entered never left. A child of Typhon and Echidna, he was part of a monstrous family, which included Orthus, the Lernaean Hydra, and the Chimaera as well. Only on three occasions Cerberus was tricked by visitors of Hades: Heracles did it with his strength, Orpheus with his music. In "The Inferno", Dante places Cerberus as the guardian of the third circle of Hell. With his three mouths, Dante saw Cerberus as a beast that was synonymous with the sin of Gluttony. Virgil gets past the monster by throwing mud in his three mouths, temporarily choking him. Very rare are the representations of Cerberus in ancient statuary...

Italian Memento Mori skull Marble North of Italy, 17th century H 9 x L 7 x P 14 cm At the turn of the 16th century, they were the height of fashi...

The Adoration of the Magi. Panel carved in high relief. Flanders, 17th century. Measures: 53 x 32,5 cm.

Alabaster Golgotha Italy, 17th cenury Alabaster with traces of polychromy 16 x 10 x 9 cm The Golgotha (literally "Place of the Skull ») is a hill on the outskirts of the city o...

A Captive Soldier Gilt Bronze, Lost Wax Italie (Rome), 17th century H 17 x Dia 10 cm H 6 2/3 x Dia 4 inch The 17th century witnessed a flourishing of artistic expression across Eur...

Large Terracotta relief of the flight into Egypt Lombardy, first half of 17th century Painted terracotta 91 x 85 x 11,5 cm This event in the early life of Christ is recounted i...

Stunning, solid white, Carrara marble lions head from a fountain in Florence featuring a flowing main and a fabulous patina. Mounted on a custom, iron base. The piece hails from the ...

XVII Century Lion Marble, 30 x 43 x 25 The object under consideration is configured as a marble sculpture referable to the 17th century, characterized by a strong, visceral langua...

very big and massive bronze door knocker, German or maybe Italian in origin, 16-17th century, amazing green original patina to the face, some scares and dings to the face which gives...

Faun-Demon. Female figure with goat legs. Animal skin on her shoulders. Demonic face. She is holding a turtle.

Beautiful, albeit heavily distressed stone bust depicting an authoritarian man on a pedestal. Softly colored grey stone with many details intact including draping on tunic, eyes, be...

A spectacular mid-17th century Venetian Sculpture - "Enfant Au Coussin" - Enfant With Pillow. Expertly carved from Verona Marble. An architectural element originally serving as a b...