Pair of Life Size Greek Bronze Figures

A PAIR OF LIFE SIZE GREEK BRONZE HEROIC FIGURES AFTER THE ANTIQUE

Recent copies of the Greek sculptures discovered in the sea near Riace, Calabria in 1972.

The restoration of these ‘ideal’ Greek sculptures was finally completed in 2011 and they now reside in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, Reggio Calabria. We assume that these copies were created around this time when they were acquired by the present owner.

Stylistically they appear to have been created by two separate Greek artists between 420 and 460 BC.

The Marathon Monument at Delphi is considered to be a possible source of these bronzes. From Pausanias’s description there were thirteen heroic sculptures at Delphi with Miltiades truly heroized as the chief strategist of the much celebrated victory over the Persians. A strong argument for Delphi comes in the form of ‘Statue B’ who clearly wore a helmet tipped back in the style of recognisable portraits of Athenian generals.

Statue A

Height of sculpture 63” (160cm)       Painted wood stand 20”(51cm)

Statue B

Height of sculpture 66” (168cm)       Painted wood stand 20” (51cm)Life 

Tragically, ancient Greek bronze sculptures are exceedingly rare as most were melted down and the metal re-used. The discovery of these extraordinary examples is one of the greatest archaeological moments of recent times.

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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