Undoubtedly inspired by the Roman marble fragment known as the Belvedere Torso in the collection of the Vatican Museum, this bronze figure of a resting Hercules is just one of countless examples of artworks based on the Roman original. Hercules is shown sitting on a rock covered by the pelt of the Nemean lion, one of his most recognisable attributes. His posture, with the fine and realistic rendering of the lean, muscled body and the powerful curve of the back is reminiscent of a long-standing sculptural tradition that leads the path from the late fourth century Greek sculptor Lysippos to Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker in the 20th century. A compositionally similar bronze of Christ as the Man of Sorrows, attributed to the circle of Adriaen de Vries (1556-1629), on Loan to the Fitzwilliam Museum, utilises the same twisted torso as the present lot and is indicative of the 17th century Netherlandish school of sculpture.

Lot 529
NETHERLANDISH OR GERMAN BRONZE FIGURE OF SEATED HERCULES
17TH/ EARLY 18TH CENTURY
dark brown patina, raised on a stepped black marble plinth
17cm high, 24cm overall

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Five Centuries: Furniture, Paintings & Works of Art from 1600
Wednesday, 20th November at 10am
Edinburgh

VIEWING
Sat 16 & Sun 17 November 12pm - 4pm
Mon 18 & Tues 19 November 10am - 5pm
Morning of the sale from 9am

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