Details

LOT 0129

Roman Bronze Statue of Zeus with Eagle

2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

5 3/4 in. (310 grams, 14.5 cm high).

Standing nude with a wreath resting on his head, hair and beard forming a dense mass of curls; naturalistic facial detailing, long and slender muscular torso, depicting a harmonious anatomy with sharp divisions of the abdominal muscles; right arm lowered, once holding a thunderbolt, the left arm raised; a small cloak draped around the torso; an eagle with open wings standing beside him; cotton-reel base.

Provenance

Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12467-230459.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Published

Exhibited at the Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 21st January-10th March 2025; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefacts on display.

Literature

Cf. Reinach, S., Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine, Paris, 1897, p.7, nos.1,3; 8 no.3, for the type; Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, XVIII supplément à ‘Gallia’, Paris, 1965, nos.3-6, for similar.

Footnotes

This small bronze may have served as a devotional image in a personal shrine or used as votive object offered as dedication to the god.