Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A lead plaque or applique showing Eros riding on the back of a bull. The artist has created a bull with rippling muscles, an image of virile power. Eros, depicted as a cherub, is posed with his bow raised. In the Roman period, Eros had become a child (to the earlier Greeks, he was a muscular youth), but here he retains his mischievous air, ready to help couples fall in love through not-entirely-innocent interventions. Lead appliques like this one were made to decorate vessels and furniture. Comes mounted on a stand with a backing as shown. Size: 3.5" W x 3" H (8.9 cm x 7.6 cm); size of stand/backing: 2.05" L x 4.65" W x 5" H (5.2 cm x 11.8 cm x 12.7 cm)

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121284

Bull has losses to legs below the knees as shown; Eros's wing is folded over and part of his bow is lost.