Boy with Thorn, Finest US Lost Wax Bronze Sculpture by D’Angers

Description

Boy with Thorn, also called Fedele (Fedelino) or Spinario, is a Greco-Roman Hellenistic bronze sculpture of a boy withdrawing a thorn from the sole of his foot, now in the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Rome. There is a Roman marble version of this subject from the Medici collections in a corridor of the Uffizi Gallery, Florence. The sculpture was one of the very few Roman bronzes that was never lost to sight.

The statue represents a naked boy, sitting on a rock, intent on removing a thorn from his foot, probably from treading grapes during the harvest. This theme was widespread and well known in ancient times, and probably created in Greece in the 3rd century BC. From there it came to Rome, where it was copied to portray Ascanius, son of Aeneas and, according to legend, the founder of the dynasty of Julius and Augustus Caesar.

A curious fact: the first time that this statue was seen in modern times was around the end of the 12th century in Rome. It was a bronze copy (or perhaps even an original, now preserved in the Capitoline Museums in Rome), which was discovered by chance by an English traveller. From that time, copies continued to be made and it also became a source of inspiration for modern sculptors. Perhaps it was the freshness of the scene, portrayed with a discreet elegance, that made the young man such an interesting motif to copy.

Our sculpture dates back to the 1st century BC. His gaze, is concentrated on his injured foot, his hair caresses his neck and forehead, and his delicately moulded body is that of a young man with tensed muscles, focused on the difficult task of not feeling pain.

14.5″H x 9″L.

This beautiful interpretation by D’Angers of the famous ancient sculpture is full of great detail from his perfect toes to the thorn and the fingers of his hands. The statue is cast in the finest American bronze by the superior lost wax process, finished in golden and brown patinas, hand polished to bring out the awesome details and highlights and mounted on a fine marble base. A wonderful desktop statue for any place in your home. Lead time is usually 4-6 weeks unless we have one in stock. Bronze is forever!

About the artist:

Pierre-Jean David (12 March 1788 – 4 January 1856) was a French sculptor, medallist and active freemason. He adopted the name David d’Angers, following his entry into the studio of the painter Jacques-Louis David in 1809 as a way of both expressing his patrimony and distinguishing himself from the master painter.