About the Statue: This nude statue is by the world-renowned artisan, Benvenuto Cellini. It depicts the Greek God, Hermes. In the Roman adaptation of the Greek religion, Hermes was identified with the Roman god Mercury, who, though inherited from the Etruscans, developed many similar characteristics, such as being the patron of commerce. Mercury (Hermes) acted as messenger of the gods and a deity of wealth, trade and travelers. He assisted many gods by using his winged sandals. Hermes is the Messenger of the Gods in Greek mythology. An Olympian God, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of thieves and road travelers, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures, of invention, of general commerce, and of the cunning of thieves and liars. His symbols include the tortoise, the cock, the winged sandals, and the caduceus. The analogous Roman deity is Mercury. He wears shoes with wings on them and uses them to fly freely between the mortal and immortal world. Hermes was the youngest of the Olympian Gods Hermes, as an inventor of fire, is a parallel of the Titan, Prometheus. In addition to the lyre, Hermes was believed to have invented many types of racing and the sport of wrestling, and therefore was a patron of athletes. This statue is made from quality lost wax bronze and rests on black marble base. Signed "B. Cellini."About the Artist: Benvenuto Cellini.(3 November 1500 – 13 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, painter, writer, architect, and sculptor, of the Renaissance. Benvenuto Cellini was born in Florence, Italy where his family had been landowners for three generations.Cellini was an accomplished versatile artist of the Italian High Renaissance. The autobiography that he wrote is considered priceless in the modern day, partly because of the information that it includes about the High Renaissance. He also wrote other books as a talented author. Cellini was involved in the crafting of coins and other jewelry designs. He was a Master Craftsman, although he was not involved in any guilds. Cellini had many designs for metalwork.Cellini was involved in many famous works of art. As a goldsmith, he made a Saltcellar for Francis 1 of France. Many works of gold were included in Cellini's schedule. Other works of art that Cellini created are the silver figures of Jupiter, Juno, Vulcan and Mars. Among Cellini's most famous works of art are the carved crucifix of black and white marble, the Perseus of bronze, a marble statue of Apollo, and many paintings and sculptings at Fontainbleau School. Probably his most famous sculptural work of art is the Nymph of Fontainbleau, which was sculpted in bronze. His first large scale sculptural works were the bust of Julius Cesar and a bronze relief of the Nymph of Fontainbleau. Cellini was famous as an architect, and made plans for the Neptune Fountain in Piazza Sigralin.Cellini strongly influenced the painting and sculpting at Fontainbleau School, and he set high technical standards for the sculptors that followed him. Cellini had the finest metalwork in the Renaissance.

this item is in great condition