CS24

Mercury tying the winged sandals

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (Artist)

General Description: This is one of a pair of plasters along with Venus bought by Rogers. In Roman mythology Mercury was the son of Zeus and Maia and the messenger to the gods. He wears a round winged hat, called the petasus, and also winged sandals. His other attribute is the staff or caduceus. Mercury is associated with peace and prosperity. (, )
: A similar version, a 19th century terracotta model after Pigalle's Mercury, was sold at Sothebys for $5,313 29 Jan 2010 with the following catalogue note of interest for research: 'Réau 1950, p. 151; MMA Bulletin 1991/92, pp. 10-11 Pigalle presented his morceau de réception, the marble of Mercury now in the Louvre, to the Academy in 1744. With its pendant, Venus, this composition became immediately popular and replicas were made in a variety of media, including a large marble pair given by Louis XV as a gift to Frederick II of Prussia. A patinated terracotta version of Mercury of nearly the same size is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.' http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2010/important-european-terracotta-bronze-sculpture-from-the-arthur-m-sackler-collections-n08689/lot.488.html (TW, Sothebys catalogue note, 2018-09-24)

, 1725 c - 1775 c

18 century (mid)

Named Collection: Cottonian Collection