Sculpture - Bronze - Runner - Grand Tour - Italy - 19th Century

Bronze sculpture of the Grand Tour of Italy, inspired by the ancient models of the riders of Herculaneum* from the Villa of the Papyri of Herculaneum and preserved at the Royal Museum of Naples Placed on a rectangular base * The two twin bronze statues are part of statuary from the Villa of the Papyri a luxury villa located on the outskirts of ancient Herculaneum (Ercolano) where they were found in 1754. The work depicts two young naked athletes on an irregular base in a similar and specular posture while quite similar in facial features. The statue shows the athlete with the left leg bent forward and the sole of the foot resting on the ground while the right leg is backward with the heel raised; the trunk is leaned forward; the right arm is bent while the left is lowered; the head is slightly turned towards the shoulders; the hair with short tousled tufts on the forehead is arranged in two opposing strands in the shape of pincers the eyes are well detailed. They are probably copies of Greek statues from the end of the 4th century or the beginning of the 3rd century BC celebrating a victorious athlete in one of the great Panhellenic games. Italy 19th century