Object Description
Pair of bronze sculptures of Mercury and Fortuna
French, late 19th Century
Mercury: Height 64cm, width 11cm, depth 27cm
Fortuna: Height 65cm, width 14cm, depth 22cm
This superb pair of bronze sculptures depict Mercury, the Roman messenger god, and Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune. The figure of Mercury is after the original by Giambologna, while that of Fortuna is after Fulconis. Both express energetic postures and gestures, supporting themselves on single legs as if about to take flight. The quality of the casting is magnificent, with the finest of details carefully rendered. Each sculpture is raised on a circular patinated bronze plinth, the sides of each plinth decorated with a band of relief sculpture.
Mercury is signed ‘J. de Bologne’, or Giambologna.