Bronze Athenian Figure Based On The "tripod From The Temple Of Isis," J. Chiurazzi & Sons, Italy, Late 19th Century

- Bronze Athenian statue with an "antique green" patinacreated in the late 19th century by the J. Chiurazzi & Sons foundry in Naples, based on the “tripod of Isis” discovered in the Temple of Isis in Pompeii in the 1760s.

- This tripod features a shallow circular basin with a removable pewter receptacle. The rim is adorned with a border of bucrania interspersed with a laurel garland. It rests on three legs shaped like single-toed feline paws, topped with seated winged sphinxes and foliage scrolls. The tops of the legs are decorated with masks and volutes; they are connected by openwork crossbars featuring acanthus scroll motifs. The entire piece rests on a stepped base with concave sides.

- The model used to create this Athenian statue is an ancient artifact discovered in 1760 during excavations in Pompeii. It is the “Tripod of Isis,” discovered in the Temple of Isis and since housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The Temple of Isis was a Roman temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis; it was among the first discoveries made during the excavations at Pompeii in 1764. Considered one of the most elegant examples of ancient tripods, this piece gained fame throughout the rest of Europe thanks to engravings, notably that by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1779 (see penultimate photo). It also appears a century later in a 1873 painting by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema titled “In the Temple” (see last photo or V. Swanson, Catalogue Raisonné, London 1979, no. 132).

- The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the mid-18th century sparked a renewed enthusiasm for antiquity; the masterpieces unearthed revitalized the repertoire of the fine and decorative arts, while also serving as models for Neoclassicism. Aristocrats and art lovers rounded out their education by taking the “Grand Tour” of Italy and were often captivated by the recently unearthed Greek and Roman ruins, wishing to bring back a memento of these ancient works from their travels. It was in this context that numerous reproductions of archaeological artifacts—held in Italian museums and primarily at the Museum of Naples—began to be cast as small bronze models starting in 1870 by the Chiurazzi Foundry in Naples (Fonderie Artistiche Italiane), helping to spread these testaments to the past throughout Europe.

- This finely crafted bronze piece with neoclassical decoration features an antique green patina known as “excavation green,” designed to mimic the natural oxidation and aged appearance of artifacts unearthed during archaeological excavations.

- Dimensions - Height: 27 cm, diameter: 14.5 cm