Lost wax bronze casting

This beautiful silhoutte of the divinity Mercury makes part of other four divinities narrating the story of the myth of the Perseus, at the base of the Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) commissioned by Cosimo de Medici.
Mercury is infact the legendary god taking part in the enterprise of Perseus defeating the Gorgone Medusa with a sword he receives from the same god. The sword helps young Perseus in the beheading of the Medusa, that he fiercely holds in the right hand.
It is curious to notice that though being produced in the 1500, the Mercury is very modern in his posture and physique, he almost looks like a testimonial for a swimwear advertising campaign.

Material

Bronze

Size

h. 104 cm x l. 34 cm

Weight

30 kg

CODE

BRM0037

Mercury Benvenuto Cellini Florence medusa Perseus renaissance full figure hero god greek myth