Roman Figurine: Bronze figurine of Apollo
Inv. No.: 95.002
Provenance: Roman
Date: c. 2nd century AD
Height: 112mm
Width: 39mm
A small figurine of a god with attributes belonging to Apollo as depicted in the Apollo Belvedere type of statue (a short mantle draped over the shoulders, a bow held in his right hand and a quiver on his back) plus a laurel wreath worn on the head. However, this figurine lacks the grace of the larger sculpture. The body is frontal with weight born on the right leg, which steps forward whilst the left leg is set back and is slightly bent at the knee. The trim torso has indications of well-developed musculature as do the legs, but there is very little specific detail apart from the genitals. The left arm is very slightly bent at the elbow and an object, probably a bow with the top end broken off, is held in the lowered left hand. The bend at the elbow is more marked in the right arm so that the forearm projects forwards, perhaps in a gesture of offering. However, the right hand and anything that it might have held (such as a patera) are missing. The head of the god is frontal, but with a slight turn to his right. He is shown as a young man with delicate features. His hair is parted in the centre, swept away from his face and gathered in a knot on the back of his neck with a long tress hanging down each side of his neck and finishing at shoulder level. The laurel wreath encircles his head with small projections suggesting leaves while the mantle hangs down his back, finishing just below his buttocks. At the front it hangs down each side of his torso, reaching to just above knee level. From this point of view the strap of his quiver is visible as it passes out from beneath the mantle, across his bare chest. The quiver is positioned obliquely, high up on his back with the top end visible from the front, above his right shoulder. The quiver has a thickened base and a pointed top end, suggesting arrow heads. The figurine is set on a round pedestal, and (apart from the breaks already mentioned) is in very good condition with a dark patina although there is some surface roughness plus a slight reddish-brown incrustation. An irregular hole is present on the base, on the stem area below the left foot of the figurine, and is perhaps a casting flaw.
Function:
A votive object, used as an offering in a sanctuary or perhaps as part of a household shrine.
Manufacture:
The figurine is cast solid, probably using the lost-wax method while the base is hollow cast.
Decoration:
- The quiver is a flattened oblong shape with a base that is slightly wider than the shaft. The latter is decorated with a groove. There are also horizontal grooves at the top and midpoint of the shaft and the area between is decorated with indistinct incised lozenge patterns.
- The circular base has a disc at the top with a profile consisting of two moulded rings. These are separated by a groove that is just below the upper surface producing a narrow ring at the top and a wider ring below. This disc is set on a narrower stem with a concave profile. It flares towards the bottom and is set upon a foot composed of three convex moulded rings separated by grooves. The top and bottom rings are narrow while the central ring is wider.
Bibliography:
Antiquities, Charles Ede catalogue, 160 (1995), No. 8.
Menzel, H., "Roman Bronzes" in D. G. Mitten and S. F. Doeringer, Master Bronzes from the Classical World, Mainz on Rhine, Philipp von Zabern, 1967, 227-233.
Comparanda:
Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (1984), II, 2, Apollon 79 ("Apollo Belvedere" type); Apollo 301 (bronze statuette of Apollo with wreath and quiver) and 302g (similar to 301 but with a patera held in the right hand).
Vermeule, C., Greek and Roman Sculpture in Gold and Silver, Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, 1974, No. 36 (Graeco-Roman silver figurine of Apollo with bow and quiver, wearing a laurel wreath).