IMPORTANT STATUE OF YOUNG BACCHUS WITH PANTHER Hellenistic... Lot 165

IMPORTANT STATUE OF YOUNG BACCHUS WITH PANTHER Hellenistic art, 2nd century B.C. Marble H. 80 cm Provenance Former Gioacchino Ferroni collection, Rome, before 1909 Sangiorgi Gallery, Rome, April 14-22, 1909 Helbing Gallery, Munich, June 27-28, 1910 Anonymous sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, March 13, 1911 Former private collection of Georges Joseph Demotte (1877-1923), Paris, 1919 Former private collection of Dr. Bres, Villa Fontevieille, Grasse, before 1953 Former French private collection The young Dionysus is represented standing, in contrapposto. The weight is placed on the left leg, while the right one rests elegantly on the panther. According to the models attested in the ancient classical classical production, the missing right arm must have been raised, as well as the inclination of the back and the general pose of the figure, as well as the high attachment interrupted by the break. The god in this posture must have been lifting a bunch of grapes or a wine cup. The left arm holds the mantle, close to a support. The drapery falls elegantly in a sinewy manner, (with a typically Hellenistic taste) and thus creating a masterly chiaroscuro effect of great beauty. This cloak partially covers the figure, leaving the upper part uncovered. The torso is characterized by a soft and refined modeling of the anatomy, alluding to the youth of the god. A rare iconography of Bacchus and the panther A detail of particular interest can be identified in the panther, usually represented next to the deity. In this case, the panther is rather elongated, only with its head raised and facing the figure, becoming an unusual support where Dionysus' foot rests. This composition can be considered particularly rare, and is apparently attested only in a marble example reported by Reinach and relating to the Kircherian Museum (B (ull). Mus. Kircher, 95, Helb.). This specimen, according to the drawing, is comparable only by the detail of the trampled panther, while the rest of the sculpture seems to be an elaboration of several different typologies of the standing young Dionysus, sometimes naked, sometimes partially draped, here merged into a work of great artistic value. An hellenistic marble statue of Young Bacchus and panther. The young Dionysus is represented standing, in contrapposto. The weight is placed on the left leg, while the right rests elegantly on the panther. According to models attested in the old classical production, the missing right arm had to be raised, as well as the tilt of the back and the general pose of the figure, as well as the high tie interrupted by the break. The god in this posture had to lift a bunch of grapes or a wine cup. The left arm is holding the coat, near a stand. The drape falls elegantly in a sinuous way, (with a typically Hellenistic taste) and thus re-creating a masterful chiaroscuro effect of great beauty. This mantle partially covers the figure, leaving the upper part uncovered. The torso is characterized by a soft and refined modeling of the anatomy, alluding to the youth of the god. An iconography of Bacchus and the rare panther A detail of particular interest can be identified in the panther, usually depicted alongside the deity. In this case, the panther is rather elongated, only with the head raised and facing the figure, becoming an unusual support where the foot of Dionysus rests. This composition can be considered particularly rare, and is apparently only attested in an example of marble reported by Reinach and relating to the Kircherian Museum (B (ull). Mus. Kircher, 95, Helb.). This specimen, according to the drawing, can only be compared in detail with the trampled panther, while the rest of the sculpture seems to be an elaboration of several different typologies of the young Dionysus standing, sometimes naked, sometimes partially draped, here merged into a work of great artistic value. Ca. 2nd century B.C.