OF GRAND TOUR INTEREST: AN ITALIAN PATINATED BRONZE OF DIONYSUS AFTER THE ANTIQUE

Originally identified as Narcissus, but now recognised as Dionysus, this model of the Roman 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD bronze statuette, was discovered in 1862 during excavations in Pompei and is now housed at the Museo Archeologico Nationale. It is actually a copy of a Greek 4th Century BC originally by an artist working in the vein of the known sculptor Praxiteles. 

The popularity of the Narcissus led it to become a standard product for the Neapolitan foundries that specialised in reproductions from Pompei and Herculaneum, including Michele Amodio, De Angelis, the Fonderie Artistiche Riunite and largest of all, the Chiurazzi foundry, ,