LOT 0661

Roman Bronze Figure of Hercules Holding Club and Skyphos

2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

3 3/8 in. (115 grams, 86 mm).

Depicted nude in a contrapposto stance with the weight on his left leg, holding a club in the crook of his left hand with a lion-skin draped over the arm, and a cup in his right hand.

Acquired in the 1980s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12615-234681.

Cf. Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 105, for the type.

This well-proportioned bronze statuette, perhaps of Gallo-Roman origin, was likely made for a private lararium, the domestic shrine found in many Roman homes. Although provincial in style, it is carefully modelled and has a strong presence. Unlike many similar figures, Hercules is shown here without a beard, and the upper part of the head was probably once covered by a laurel crown. Known to the Greeks as Herakles, Hercules was one of the most admired heroic figures in the Roman world, celebrated for his strength, endurance, and ability to overcome immense challenges. His famous Twelve Labours made him a lasting symbol of perseverance and triumph, and small bronze figures such as this would have brought not only mythological meaning into the home, but also a sense of protection, resilience, and personal devotion.