About the Work

Softly modelled transitions, the reduced accentuation of musculature, the slightly protruding lower abdomen and the lack of pubic hair lend the slender, under life-sized torso a boyish appearance. When viewed from the front, there is a striking contrast between the relaxed contrapposto of the legs and the almost static torso, whose posture allows virtually no shift of the body axes. The chest is covered with a chlamys, which is fastened above the right shoulder by a round brooch and cascades diagonally across the back.

A large section of the back, mainly the area with the garment, as well as the left shoulder and arm were attached by means of an iron dowel, the remains of which are still preserved. The area where they were attached shows the typical preparatory tooling. The adjoining break surface on the right may date from a different point in time. Its edges reveal traces of a toothed chisel which continue along the edge of the prepared surface and partially over it. This tooling must, therefore, be of more recent date. A second round, but much smaller dowel hole is located on the left at the hip line, and a third that contains about one third of the dowel can be found below the right upper arm. On the lower outer part of the completely preserved left thigh, the remains of an adjoining support are visible. The beginning of the right thigh with a puntello on the outward facing side is preserved. The underside is smoothed and has an iron dowel in the centre, which was used to attach the rest of the thigh or leg. This addition was probably made at the same time as the other attachments for which the toothed chisel was used to prepare the surfaces. The head and penis were also attached separately. At the back, a pronounced drill channel separates the small, firm buttocks. It is not easy to determine the statue type and to identify who was represented. The upright posture in combination with the accentuated boyishness of the statue permit different interpretations (cf. a small statue of Hermes in Berlin, inv. no. Sk 198; Eros type Centocelle or its reinterpretation, e.g. as Apollo). The chlamys could be a typical but at the same time unspecific addition by the Roman copyist. The question also arises as to whether the historical additions were in tune with the ancient subject matter or whether the sculpture was reinterpreted. The comparatively large attachment surface(s) on the back could indicate a larger addition (which probably made the dowel at the left hip necessary). Possibly the sculpture represented Ganymede with an eagle on his shoulder. The edges of the folds of the chlamys are slightly chipped. Some small superficial flaking on the left side. Surface cleaned.

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Provenance

The old restorations (now removed) would probably have been executed in Italy 17th/18th century. On the Zurich art market, prior to 1988. With Sotheby's, London, 12.02.1988, lot 98; Sotheby's New York, 25.06.1992, lot 106; Sotheby's, New York, 07.12.2001, lot 78.