Inv. n°: MMoCA782

Bronze Statue of Mercury (of Bavay, Nord-Pas-de-Calais)

Mercury is naked, standing upright and is leaning on his right leg with his left leg bent slightly. He is holding a purse in his right hand and probably held a caduceus in his left hand. His head is turned to the left and rests on a powerful neck framed with short wavy locks of hair. The top of the head was forged separately.

h. 21 x w. 10 x ø 5 cm

1st-2nd century AD

Gilded bronze

Provenance

  • Ex-collection of Charles Delaporte (1878-1974), acquired in 1912 and kept in the family, It was examined by Edmond Haraucourt, Curator at the Musée de Cluny between 1912-1925
  • Acquired at Pierre Bergé & Associates, Paris, 1st December 2011, lot 402 (Export licence number 132652 delivered on 7th December 2011 by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication)

Publications

  • Antiques Trade Gazette, 24th & 31st December 2011, issue 2021, p. 31
  • D. Ekserdjian, Bronze, Royal Academy of Arts, September 2012, pp.138-139, fig. 43
  • M. Merrony, Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins. La Collection Famille Levett, 2012, p. 61
  • Minerva: the International Review of Ancient Art & Archaeology, September/October 2012, vol. 23, no. 5, front cover

Exhibitions

  • Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins (MACM), Mougins, France, from 2011
  • Bronze, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK, September 2012 — December 2012

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