Skip to main content

Antique Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete

Antique Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete

View Similar Items

Alexandre Ouline Bronze Sculpture of Athlete

Alexandre Ouline Bronze Sculpture of Athlete

French, Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete on a Marble Base

French, Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete on a Marble Base

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of an Athlete

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of an Athlete

Grand Tour Bronze and Marble Sculpture of the 'Seated Hermes' or Mercury

Grand Tour Bronze and Marble Sculpture of the 'Seated Hermes' or Mercury

Bronze Sculpture "Athlete" by Max le Verrier

Bronze Sculpture "Athlete" by Max le Verrier

19th C. Italian Bronze Grand Tour Sculpture Nude Discuss Athlete, in Repose

19th C. Italian Bronze Grand Tour Sculpture Nude Discuss Athlete, in Repose

Antique bronze athlete as discus thrower

Antique bronze athlete as discus thrower

"Shotputter, " Large Bronze Sculpture of Nude Male Athlete, Exquisitely Sculpted

"Shotputter, " Large Bronze Sculpture of Nude Male Athlete, Exquisitely Sculpted

1930s Art Deco Antimony Sculpture of an Athlete by Jean De Roncourt

1930s Art Deco Antimony Sculpture of an Athlete by Jean De Roncourt

Art Deco bronze sculpture of 3 athletes ALLEGORY OF SPEED by Robert Delandre

Art Deco bronze sculpture of 3 athletes ALLEGORY OF SPEED by Robert Delandre

Impressive large bronze horse sculpture Pesade pose with athlete

Impressive large bronze horse sculpture Pesade pose with athlete

Italian 19th Century Grand Tour Period Patinated Bronze of a Roman Athlete

Italian 19th Century Grand Tour Period Patinated Bronze of a Roman Athlete

Video Loading

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 21

Antique Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete

About the Item

An exquisite 'Grand Tour' bronze figure of a young athlete, one of the two known as the 'Herculaneum Runners' or Corridori d'Ercolano, after the original excavated at the Villa of the Papyri in 1754. Italy, 19th century. Superb quality, original patination. Why we like it Exquisitely rendered, with beautiful patination, this handsome figure has most attractive features and reflects the Ancient Greek ideal of beauty. Coveted by the 19th century intellectuals and aesthetes, such exquisite objects were not mere decorations, but symbols of their owner's classical values and refined taste. History The two bronze figures of athletes were found in 1754 in the peristile of the so-called Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum and were most likely Roman copies of the Greek originals from late 4th –early 3rd century BC, and are now preserved at the Naples Archeological Museum. Villa of the Papyri was an ancient Roman villa in Herculaneum, in what is now Ercolano, southern Italy. It is named after its unique library of papyri (or scrolls), discovered in 1750. The Villa was considered to be one of the most luxurious houses in all of Herculaneum and in the Roman world. Its luxury is shown by its exquisite architecture and by the very large number of outstanding works of art discovered, including frescoes, bronzes and marble sculpture which constitute the largest collection of Greek and Roman sculptures ever discovered in a single context. It was situated on the ancient coastline below the volcano Vesuvius with nothing to obstruct the view of the sea. It was perhaps owned by Julius Caesar's father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus. In AD 79, the eruption of Vesuvius covered all of Herculaneum with up to 30 metres (98 ft) of volcanic material from pyroclastic flows. Herculaneum was first excavated in the years between 1750 and 1765 by Karl Weber by means of tunnels. Most of the villa is still underground, but parts have been cleared of volcanic deposits. Many of the finds are displayed in the Naples National Archaeological Museum. Although unsigned, it is almost certainly made by one of the three main Neapolitan foundries that had access to the originals held at the Naples Museum, Chiurazzi, or De Angelis or Sommer, all of which catered for the needs and tastes of the grand-tourists throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Three different types of patination were available, the most common being the "Herculaneum", "dark green and almost shiny" patina, the "Pompeii", "green and blue not burnished", and the "Renaissance", "brown, shiny, burnished". The present figure displays its original 'Renaissance' finish.

Attributed to:
Fonderia Chiurazzi (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 14 in (35.56 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
Style:
Grand Tour (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Patinated
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1860–1890
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Superb original patination.
Seller Location:
Richmond, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1781228389692

More From This Seller

Antique Bronze Etruscan Candelabrum 19th Century

By F. Barbedienne Foundry

Located in Richmond, London

An exquisitely cast and patinated bronze 'Etruscan' candelabrum in the Grand Tour taste. France or Italy, mid- to late 19th century. Why we like it We love the finest quality of cas...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Grand Tour Candelabras

Materials

Bronze

Antique Bronze Etruscan Candelabrum 19th Century

Antique Bronze Etruscan Candelabrum 19th Century

$1,654

Early 19th Century Grand Tour Male Nude Drawing of an Athletic Youth

Located in Richmond, London

An exquisite early 19th century Grand Tour male nude drawing of an athletic youth. Signed Gennaro Gonzalez 21 December 1813. Why we like it Draw...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Drawings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Early 19th Century Grand Tour Male Nude Drawing of an Athletic Youth

Early 19th Century Grand Tour Male Nude Drawing of an Athletic Youth

$1,592

Pair of Large Grand Tour Engravings by Pierre Bouillon

Located in Richmond, London

Two exquisite and rare etchings of ancient sculptures by Pierre Bouillon (1776-1831), from his book Musée des antiques, published in Paris between 1811...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Grand Tour Prints

Materials

Paper

Pair of Large Grand Tour Engravings by Pierre Bouillon

Pair of Large Grand Tour Engravings by Pierre Bouillon

$3,033 / set

Pair of Antique Decalcomania Vase Lamps, circa 1900

Located in Richmond, London

A rare pair of charming blue and 'decalcomania' decorated glass vases, mounted as lamps, on water-gilded bases. Vases French, 19th century, mounts modern. Why we like them We love t...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Table Lamps

Materials

Blown Glass

Pair of Antique Decalcomania Vase Lamps, circa 1900

Pair of Antique Decalcomania Vase Lamps, circa 1900

$2,605 / set

19th Century Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra

Located in Richmond, London

A fine pair of Regency period gilded and patinated bronze candelabra or candlesticks. English, circa 1810. Why we like them Exquisite, late neoclassical design; beautiful co...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Candelabras

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra

19th Century Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra

$3,033 / set

Pair Baguès Mirrored Bronze 2-Light Wall Sconces, France, 1950s

Located in Richmond, London

A superbly decorative pair of mirrored girandole wall lights or sconces of compact proportions, very much in the style of Maison Bagues or Maison Jansen. Each with bronze twin-arms, ...

Category

Early 20th Century European Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair Baguès Mirrored Bronze 2-Light Wall Sconces, France, 1950s

Pair Baguès Mirrored Bronze 2-Light Wall Sconces, France, 1950s

$2,619 / set

You May Also Like

Alexandre Ouline Bronze Sculpture of Athlete

Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire

A patinated bronze sculpture of a seated nude man by Belgian sculptor Alexandre Ouline (1918-1940). The seated figure, thought to be that of an athlete, resting his chin on his hand...

Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Alexandre Ouline Bronze Sculpture of Athlete

Alexandre Ouline Bronze Sculpture of Athlete

$4,515

French, Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete on a Marble Base

By Alexandre Kéléty, Pierre Le Faguays, Ferdinand Preiss, Demetre Chiparus

Located in Houston, TX

Beautifully executed French Art Deco bronze sculpture of an athlete on a black marble base, circa 1930. This Art Deco bronze is signed (...

Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

French, Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete on a Marble Base

French, Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of an Athlete on a Marble Base

$6,450

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of an Athlete

Located in New York, NY

Italian Grand Tour bronze figure of an athlete, Italy, 19th century. Measures: H 11.5 in.

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of an Athlete

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of an Athlete

$2,800

Grand Tour Bronze and Marble Sculpture of the 'Seated Hermes' or Mercury

By Fonderia Chiurazzi

Located in Kinderhook, NY

A large and exceptional late 19th century Italian Grand Tour sculpture of the ‘Seated Hermes’ attributed to the Chiurazzi Foundry, Naples, Italy. The sol...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour Bronze and Marble Sculpture of the 'Seated Hermes' or Mercury

Grand Tour Bronze and Marble Sculpture of the 'Seated Hermes' or Mercury

$9,875

Bronze Sculpture "Athlete" by Max le Verrier

By Max Le Verrier

Located in Montreal, QC

Bronze Sculpture "Athlete" by Max le Verrier resting on stone base Stamped: "M Le Verrier" on underside. France: circa 1937 Similar model is illustrated i...

Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Sculpture "Athlete" by Max le Verrier

Bronze Sculpture "Athlete" by Max le Verrier

$3,450

19th C. Italian Bronze Grand Tour Sculpture Nude Discuss Athlete, in Repose

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

19th C. Italian Bronze Grand Tour Sculpture Nude Discuss Athlete, in Repose Attributed to the Naples Foundry, mid-19th century or older casting A 19th-century Italian Grand Tour ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th C. Italian Bronze Grand Tour Sculpture Nude Discuss Athlete, in Repose

19th C. Italian Bronze Grand Tour Sculpture Nude Discuss Athlete, in Repose

$1,895

Recently Viewed

More Ways To Browse

Jewelry Glove Display

Life Size Palm Tree

Lladro Girl Figurines

Male Torso Italian

Meissen Commedia Dell Arte

Meissen Commedia

Mid Century Madness

Miners Bronze Sculpture

Murano Figurines Pair

Naked Lady Bronze

Napoleon Bisque

Napoleon Bonaparte Signature

View All Popular Figurative Sculptures Searches