Beschreibung:

A sculpted limestone model of Mercury, in the Classical taste, 20th century, portrayed standing and nude but for drapery across his midriff, wearing the winged petasus and with his caduceus in his right hand, on a rectangular base, 180cm high, the square section panel sided base 91cm high, 77cm square, 271cm high overall The stance and general demeanour of restful repose in this model is far more reminiscent of ancient Greek originals, and indeed 18th century versions, than it is of the more well known Baroque models by sculptors like Giambologna, where the god was more typically portrayed in more active poses. An example held at the Louvre in Paris, previously in the ownership of Louis XIV which is based on a 5th century BC work by Polyclitus illustrates this, with the god standing against rockwork, in a placid and unhurried posture, his caduceus propped up against the rockwork plinth below