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Unknown Maker, Northern Italian

Apollo
Now On View

Maker

Unknown Maker, Northern Italian

Culture

Northern Italian

Title

Apollo

Year

ca. 1540

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

gilding, bronze

Dimensions

18.7 x 6.4 x 4.5 cm (7 3/8 x 2 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Murray S. Danforth

Object Number

73.079

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

European Galleries
Sep 02, 2017

Label copy

The youthful grace and elegant topknot identify this gilded figure as Apollo, a god revered by ancient Greeks and Romans. Naked except for Roman-style silver boots decorated with lion masks, this figure may have originally held a lyre, arrow, or bow, attributes often associated with Apollo. The lithe torso, muscular legs, and balanced stance were inspired by classical sculpture.

During the Renaissance, knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman texts was represented in finely crafted statuettes such as this one. Made of precious materials and beautiful to look at and hold, they were displayed by wealthy patrons in private libraries or studies.

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Northern Italian
Apollo, ca. 1540
Bronze with silver and gilding
18.7 x 6.4 x 4.5 cm (7 3/8 x 2 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches)
Gift of Mrs. Murray S. Danforth 73.079

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