“SEATED HERMES” CIRCA LATE 19TH CENTURY ANTIQUE ITALIAN CAST BRONZE SCULPTURE

This unsigned cast bronze sculpture is a rendered copy after the original bronze sculpture titled “Seated Hermes” which was found at the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum in 1758. The sculpture was probably the most celebrated work of art discovered at Herculaneum and Pompeii in the eighteenth century. It is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

The famous original sculpture has been reproduced in bronze at different foundries since the early 19th century, cast in many different sizes from as small as 3 ½ inches high to as large as 20 ½ inches high, some rendered with fine detail and accuracy, but mostly many of the smaller castings lacking detail.
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This circa late 19th century Italian cast bronze sculpture with black patina measures 8 inches high and weighs 3 pounds 12 ounces, being a high quality rendition with intricate detail and subtle features.