A BRONZE FIGURE OF JUPITER

There can be no doubt that this highly unusual bronze figure of Jupiter was influenced by Antonio del Pollaiuolo's oil on panel of Hercules and the Hydra in the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence. The movement, style and physiognomy of this figure clearly replicates the painted prototype in what is likely to be artistic homage to Pollaiuolo's mid-15th century masterpiece. The statuette varies from the painting in one aspect, however: the Hydra's head in Hercules' left hand has been replaced with thunderbolts. This minor refinement to the composition is not present in the only other known bronze version of this statuette which is cited by Gibbon as being by Pollaiuolo (A. Gibbon, Guides Des Bronzes de la Renaissance Italienne, Paris, 1990, pls. 43-44; Paris, private collection). Pollaiuolo operated one of the three principle bronze casting foundries in Florence at the end of the 15th century. Given the similarity of the present bronze statuette to Pollaiuolo's painted Hercules, it is likely that it was cast in the foundry at this time.