Japanese Meiji period bronze Ox with boy on its back, 20.5"(52cm) wide

A very impressive pair of 19th Century Bronze statues of Mercury and Fortuna, after Giambologna. The patinated bronze figures depict the classical Roman messenger god, Mercury and the goddess of luck, Fortuna. Both figures stand on cylindrical yellow marble plinths, which are encircled by bronze panels. These panels are decorated with continuous relief scenes, depicting cherubs sailing ships and consulting globes. Both figures are pictured in the nude, adopting spritely poses. Each supports their body weight on one leg, and flicks the other out behind them. Fortuna is poised on the tip of a cloud-like, swirling base, while Mercury stands on a gust of wind, issued from the mouth of the god, Zephyrus. Mercury’s heels are winged, to allow the god to fly through the air and deliver messages to the Olympian gods. These figures are based on bronze works by the famous Mannerist sculptor, Giambologna (1529-1608). Giambologna’s sculpture of Mercury is especially well-known. It was created in 1580 for Ferdinando de’ Medici. The piece was intended as a sculptural finial for a fountain in the Villa Medici in Rome, but was moved in 1780 to the Uffizi Museum in Florence.

Batch 42 N/H