- Bronze Late 19th Grand Tour - The Two Runners After The Antique Villa Papyrus Herculaneum

Pair of bronze athletes from the late 19th century Grand Tour

Two bronze sculptures with dark green patina representing runners or athletes from the originals from the Roman period found during the excavations of the Villa des Papyrus in Herculaneum in the 18th century and today preserved at the Archaeological Museum of Naples. This is a real pair and probably a cast on the way to the Grand Tour at the end of the 19th century or early twentieth century. The bases are also in bronze.

Dimensions Height: 29.7 cm Length: 26.5 cm Bases: 19.3 x 9.3 cm

Condition report. Fairly good general condition, no lack of bronzes. Note: an athlete has his rear foot which is not fixed to the base, the screw is missing (see photo). Wear and scratches to the dark green patina but the homogeneity is generally respected and acceptable. See the pictures.

The Villa dei Papiri belonged to Pison, the father-in-law of Julius Caesar, and was buried by Vesuvius during the fall of 79 AD. Discovered at the beginning of the 18th century during excavations undertaken by Charles de Bourbon, the future King of Spain Charles III and who became King of Naples in 1734, the Villa delivered famous statues including this pair of runners in 1754 They are probably copies of Greek statues from the end of the 4th century or the beginning of the 3rd century BC, celebrating a victorious athlete in one of the great Pan-Hellenic games and they probably date from the period of the Emperor Augustus. Sources: International Center for the Study of Papyri Ercolanesi "Marcello Gigante" and Museo Archeologico di Napoli