A Roman Marble Sculpture Base from a Statue of Hercules
Circa 2nd Century A.D.
Height 10 1/2 inches (26 cm).
Property from a Midwest Private Collection

Provenance:
Gorny and Mosch, Munich, Germany; where acquired by the current owner, late 2000s.

Note:
This marble sculpture with a lion skin draped over a club and head of a bull is a representation of the iconic Hercules resting for a moment from his famous twelve labors. The fragmentary sculpture can be reconstructed from the complete colossal version from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy. Weary Hercules is leaning on his club after supporting the heavens on his shoulders, while his right hand, behind his back, holds the apples he picked in the garden of the Hesperides.

Intact in two parts; adhesion above bull's head and surrounding areas to connect disjoined parts and break. The figure that once stood is now lost except for the feet and proper left hand; uneven break from figure. Dark mark or stain behind proper right foot. Encrustation with a light brown patina. Minor chips, abrasions, and losses throughout. Underside of base in the middle has old circular adhesive that may have been affixed to a modern base at one point. Width 8 x depth 5 inches.  
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