Mid 1800s Solid Bronze Sculpture “Herculaneum Olympic Runner” Nice Patina

An exquisite 'Grand Tour' bronze figure of a young athlete, one of the two known as the 'Herculaneum Runners' or Corridori d'Ercolano, after the original excavated at the Villa of the Papyri in 1754

Italy, 19th century

Superb quality, original patination.

Exquisitely rendered, with beautiful natural patina 200 years in the making. Photos are taken in 3 different settings (natural light, flash, and low light no flash) Each giving wonderful color variations. showing how the patina build up can completely change its appearance depending upon the lighting. This handsome figure has most attractive features and reflects the Ancient Greek ideal of beauty. Coveted by the 19th century intellectuals and aesthetes, such exquisite objects were not mere decorations, but symbols of their owner's classical values and refined taste. Stands 5” high X3-1/2” wide X 1-1/2” depth, extremely rare piece. Only a few survived, this sculpture was salvaged from the attic of a soon to be demolished hardware store in upstate New York. After it was rediscovered the store owner recalled his Grandfathers attachment to this piece as it has been handed down for Generations. He recalls a piece of marble it used to rest on which has since been misplaced overtime, wrapped in old newspaper in there attic. Aged to sometime in the early 1800s- mid 1800s, there is no damage to this piece. Heavy patina build up and wonderful details give this rare piece the look and feel collectors dream about. Please view all photos and thanks for looking. U.S. only please. Feel free to read the history of this exceptional bronze HERCULANEUM RUNNER

History

There were 2 bronze figures of athletes discovered in 1754 in the peristile of the so-called Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum and were most likely Roman copies of the Greek originals from late 4th –early 3rd century BC, and are now preserved at the Naples Archeological Museum.

Villa of the Papyri was an ancient Roman villa in Herculaneum, in what is now Ercolano, southern Italy. It is named after its unique library of papyri (or scrolls), discovered in 1750. The Villa was considered to be one of the most luxurious houses in all of Herculaneum and in the Roman world. Its luxury is shown by its exquisite architecture and by the very large number of outstanding works of art discovered, including frescoes, bronzes and marble sculpture which constitute the largest collection of Greek and Roman sculptures ever discovered in a single context. It was situated on the ancient coastline below the volcano Vesuvius with nothing to obstruct the view of the sea. It was perhaps owned by Julius Caesar's father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus. In AD 79, the eruption of Vesuvius covered all of Herculaneum with up to 30 metres (98 ft) of volcanic material from pyroclastic flows. Herculaneum was first excavated in the years between 1750 and 1765 by Karl Weber by means of tunnels. Most of the villa is still underground, but parts have been cleared of volcanic deposits. Many of the finds are displayed in the Naples National Archaeological Museum.