Neapolitan bronze of the philosopher Homer

Description

Neapolitan bronzes:

The history of Neapolitan bronzes is closely linked to the discoveries made by Karl Weber in 1750 in the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum. Weber, a Swiss engineer, led the excavations of this luxurious villa, which had been buried under ash due to the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. In the ruins of the villa, he discovered an impressive collection of bronze statues that represent ancient Roman craftsmanship at its best.

These bronzes, which include important works such as the “Dancer of Antiquity” and the “Statue of Hermes”, were an important contribution to the understanding of Roman art and culture. The finds quickly became known and aroused widespread interest among collectors and artists throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, at a time when ancient art forms were being revived, workshops in Naples began to recast these ancient bronzes. Sabatino De Angelis & Fils and the Chiurazzi workshop were among the best-known reproducers. These workshops specialized in producing detailed copies of the ancient statues, which were sold to museums and private collections all over the world.

The reproductions by De Angelis and Chiurazzi made a decisive contribution to preserving the heritage of Neapolitan bronzes and making it accessible to a wider public. Their works can still be found in many renowned collections today and bear witness to the timeless fascination that these masterpieces of antiquity exert. The precision craftsmanship with which these replicas were made makes them treasured objects of art history and culture, bridging the gap between past and present.

Bust of the philosopher Homer:

Burnished bronze cast on the original marble base, circa 1880 – 1900/ Italy / Naples.

It is a depiction of the Greek philosopher Homer, which was found during excavations in Greece.

Provenance: Prof. Chiurazzi’s workshop, second half of the 19th century.

With the permission of the National Museum of Naples, Prof. Chiurazzi ran a workshop for bronze casting where he was allowed to produce images of ancient finds.

Very good condition.

A collector’s item!