French school of Napoleon III period, ca.1880.

French school of Napoleon III period, ca.1880.
"Mercury".
Bust in gilded bronze.
Measurements: 48 x 20 x 17,5 cm.

Elegant bust representing Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, travelers and messengers, and is a clear example of the eclecticism and historicist taste that defined the aesthetics of the Second Empire.

The god is easily identifiable by his most characteristic attribute: the petassus, a winged helmet symbolizing speed. The face is idealized classicism, with youthful and serene features, and short curly hair that evokes the models of Greco-Roman statuary.

The bust is made of gilded bronze that highlights the volumes of the sculpture. The quality of the casting and the chiseling work are excellent, noticeable in the fine definition of the hair, the facial features and the feathers on the wings of the helmet.

It is, in short, a quality piece that synthesizes the spirit of its time: a deep respect for classic models reinterpreted through the filter of luxury, opulence and master craftsmanship characteristic of the Napoleon III style.