A BOW FIGURE OF JUPITER ASTRIDE AN EAGLE

A BOW FIGURE OF JUPITER ASTRIDE AN EAGLE

Circa 1756
15.5 cm high

This dramatic image of Jupiter astride an eagle derives ultimately from classical models such as the Hellenistic or Roman sardonyx cameo fragment of the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession no. 321422).

It was popularised by engravings after Rosso Fiorentino but the accomplished modelling of our group suggests that Bow is likely to have taken the model from a three dimensional source in bronze or perhaps ivory.

                                                                   Jacob Binck after Rosso Fiorentino

 

   A notable ivory version was carved by Balthasar Permoser and is now in the Grünes Gewölbe in Dresden

Condition:
Losses to the thunderbolts in his left hand, no restoration

Provenance:
Penrose House, Cornwall

Price: £3,800