Italian, Rome, early 19th century After the Antique

Overall the condition of the bronze is good. There is some wear and minor dirt to the surface consistent with age. There are a few original casting plugs slightly visible including to the base near the proper left heel. A darker lacquer patina has rubbed off at the high points, with some areas of scratching to this lacquer around the torso and edges of the base. There are a few minor spots of greening to the base in front of the figure. There are a few minor nicks, including to the proper left shoulder blade and upper leg. The lower edge of the base is slightly bent on the far left and right sides.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This fine Grand Tour bronze is cast after the antique marble in the Capitoline Museums, Rome. First recorded in the Ludovisi Collection in 1623, it was acquired for the Capitoline Museums by Pope Clement XII, before being ceded to the French in 1797. The sculpture arrived in Paris in a triumphal procession and was housed in the Musée Central des Arts. After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, it was returned to the Capitoline Museums, where its fame was such that it was displayed in a dedicated room named after it. Since the marble’s discovery, its popularity has spawned numerous smaller bronze casts, notably those by Giacomo and Giovanni Zoffoli and other Roman bronze founders in the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, who were catering to the tastes of British and German Grand Tourists.

RELATED LITERATURE
F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the Antique. The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven and London, pp. 224-227, no. 44