Eros; Rome, 3rd century B.C.

Eros; Rome, 3rd century B.C.
Patinated bronze.
Measurements: 5 x 3.5 x 3 cm; 10.5 cm (height with base).
Small in size and remarkably refined in form, this small bronze figure of Eros depicts the young god of love in a composition of great liveliness, designed to be viewed from multiple angles. The depiction of Eros as a child or youth, often winged, became extraordinarily widespread in Greek and Hellenistic art, becoming one of the favorite motifs in small-scale sculpture.
Of particular significance is the existence of a very similar specimen preserved at the Musée Pincé in Angers, France, with inventory number MTC 1119. A comparison with this example is particularly revealing, as it allows us to situate our piece within a tradition of small Hellenistic bronzes intended for contemplation and collecting, in which the reduced scale does not imply a sacrifice of dynamism or attention to modeling. The Musée Pincé itself houses a significant collection of Mediterranean antiquities, within which small bronzes constitute a significant portion of its holdings.