Italian school; 18th century.

Italian School; 18th century.
“Bacchus and Antinous.”
Patinated bronze and marble bases.
Measurements: 24 x 10 x 6 cm (x2); 40 cm (total height, x2).
The figures, likely identified as Dionysus (or Narcissus) and Antinous, follow models rooted in a deep ancient tradition, based on famous prototypes found throughout Italian archaeological collections. In particular, the figure of Antinous refers to the prestigious model of the Farnese Antinous, housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples—one of the most admired ancient sculptures since the Renaissance and a fundamental reference for Neoclassical artists.
The idealized treatment of the bodies, the serenity of the poses, and the pursuit of formal balance reveal the direct influence of the classical canon, reinterpreted by Italian workshops with a technical refinement designed to satisfy the tastes of international collectors. The patinated surface of the bronze lends depth and tonal richness, evoking the appearance of ancient sculptures and reinforcing their archaeological and scholarly character.The elegant, neoclassically inspired marble pedestals complete the ensemble, following a common practice for this type of sculpture intended for cabinets, libraries, and private salons. These works were commissioned within the cultural context of the Grand Tour, a phenomenon that fueled European elites’ interest in Greco-Roman antiquity and spurred the production of replicas, reinterpretations, and models inspired by the great works of classical sculpture.