Flying Hermes (Mercury), after Jean de Bologne
French School, 19th century
Bronze with brown patina, mounted on an antique-style base
This elegant bronze represents Mercury (Hermes), messenger of the gods, god of commerce, eloquence, and thieves. The composition is a reduction after the famed “Flying Mercury” by Giambologna (Jean de Bologne, 1529–1608), created around 1580 and preserved in the Bargello National Museum, Florence (inv. Bronzi 449).
Mercury is depicted in graceful flight, rising on a breath of wind from Aeolus, supported only by the tip of his foot. He wears a winged petasus, raises his right arm in a dynamic gesture, and holds a caduceus in his left hand. The bronze base is adorned with a relief of Silenus intoxicated, referencing antique Roman motifs.
A masterful 19th-century reinterpretation of a Mannerist icon, blending classical myth and Renaissance theatricality.
Height: [to be completed]
Condition: Excellent, with light wear to the patina enhancing its age and character
