Roman Bronze Figure Of Dionysos, 1st Century A.d.

Figure of Dionysos, 1st Century A.D.
H 8.3 cm

PROVENANCE
English Private Collection (Sotheby’s, London 17-18 July 1985, Lot 204)
Royal Athena Gallery
Acquired from above in 1986 by M.K., St. Clair Shores, Michigan, USA

EXHIBITED
Ohio State University
Picker Art Gallery, Colgate University 
Fitchburg Art Museum from 1986 to 2016 salem, 1997, no. 98

This bronze sculpture is an exquisitely detailed representation of the god Dionysos, whose cult was one of the most popular in ancient times. Here, the god is nude, with a mantle that gently lies on his right leg. He is holding a bunch of grapes with his left hand, and a rhyton (drinking horn) with the right. The god is youthful and joyfully gazes forwards, with a crown of ivy leaves set upon his long flowing hair. 

These features clearly resemble those of the life-size Roman marble sculpture of Dionysos exhibited at the British Museum, acc. no. 1861,0725.2 .

This statuette was probably part of a larger composition and used as a decorative element applied to a piece of furniture. Its finely wrought details, as well as the attractive olive-green patina led to its inclusion in the collection of the Fitchburg Art Museum for thirty years.