Antique Pair of Bronzes of Mercury & Fortuna After Giambologna & Fulconis 19th C

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Antique Pair of Bronzes of Mercury & Fortuna After Giambologna & Fulconis 19th C

About the Item

This is a truly stunning antique pair of French bronze statues of Mercury, also known as Hermes, and Fortuna, each cast after the models by Giambologna and Fulconis and dating from Circa 1850. Mercury is depicted beautifully standing on a gust of wind issued from the mouth of the God Zephyrus. Mercury’s heels are winged allowing the God to fly through the air and deliver messages to the Olympian Gods. Fortuna is wonderfully depicted as standing on a wheel with a gorgeous cornucopia in her right hand. In both sculptures one arm is elegantly raised up in the air pointing to the heavens. Both bronzes are raised on bronze fluted columns and plinths, with ormolu mounts and stepped red and black marble bases. Both statues have a lovely dark brown patination which is shown in all its glory. These high-quality hot cast solid bronze statues were produced using the traditional "lost wax" process, otherwise known as the "cire perdue" method. The attention to detail here is remarkable and this truly beautiful pair of bronze statues are sure to receive the maximum amount of attention wherever it is placed. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 55 x width 10 x depth 10 Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot, 10 inches x width 4 inches x depth 4 inches Hermes - was the great Olympian God of animal husbandry, roads, travel, hospitality, heralds, diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning wiles, athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He was also the personal agent and herald of Zeus, the king of the gods. Hermes was depicted as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. His attributes included the herald's wand or kerykeion (Latin caduceus), winged boots, and sometimes a winged travellers cap and chlamys cloak. He was known as Mercury to the Romans. Fortuna (Latin Fortuna, equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche) was the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion who, largely thanks to the Late Antique author Boethius, remained popular through the Middle Ages until at least the Renaissance. Fortuna is often depicted with a gubernaculum (ship's rudder), a ball or Rota Fortunae (wheel of fortune, first mentioned by Cicero) and a cornucopia (horn of plenty). She might bring good or bad luck: she could be represented as veiled and blind, as in modern depictions of Lady Justice, except that Fortuna does not hold a balance. Fortuna came to represent life's capriciousness. She was also a goddess of fate: as Atrox Fortuna, she claimed the young lives of the princeps Augustus' grandsons Gaius and Lucius, prospective heirs to the Empire. (In antiquity she was also known as Automatia.) Lost wax method sometimes called by the French name of cire perdue or the Latin, cera perduta is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artists sculpture. In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised.

Dimensions:
Height: 21.66 in (55 cm)Width: 3.94 in (10 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1850
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: A20391stDibs: LU950624490502