Statue of Bacchus
Artist
Unknown
Date1st–3rd century (torso and head), with postantique restorations
MediumMarble
Dimensions96 5/8 x 30 x 28 1/2 in. (245.4 x 76.2 x 72.4 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. John D. Humber
Object numberGL.58.2.1-3
On View
On viewProvenancePalazzo Altemps, Rome, before 1836–1870s [1]; [Ercole Canessa, Paris and New York]; J. Pierpont Morgan, New York, 1911–1945 [2]; [Joseph Brummer Gallery, New York]; [Brummer Sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, June 8–9, 1949, no. 528]. [E. A. Silberman Galleries, New York, by 1956]; Dr. and Mrs. John D. Humber, San Francisco, by 1958; fractionally given to the NCMA, 1958–1969.
[1] The Statue of Bacchus was restored multiple times and the current iteration of the sculpture is published in Clarac, Frédéric Comte de. Musée de sculpture antique et moderne. Planches Quatrième. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1836–1837. See 104, fig. 1586. The exact restoration date is unknown but predates 1836. For discussion, see Fernando Loffredo, “Some Questions about the History of Restoration: Bacchus in Context,” in The Bacchus Conservation Project: The Story of a Sculpture, Caroline M. Rocheleau, ed. (Raleigh, North Carolina Museum of Art, 2020), 24–29.
[2] Morgan purchased the statue from Canessa in April 1911 (see copy of sales invoice from Morgan Library Archives, NCMA Curatorial file GL.58.2.1–3). The statue was in the Morgan collection until May 18, 1945 (see the copy of index card of the third auction held on this date, NCMA Curatorial file GL.58.2.1-3).
[1] The Statue of Bacchus was restored multiple times and the current iteration of the sculpture is published in Clarac, Frédéric Comte de. Musée de sculpture antique et moderne. Planches Quatrième. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1836–1837. See 104, fig. 1586. The exact restoration date is unknown but predates 1836. For discussion, see Fernando Loffredo, “Some Questions about the History of Restoration: Bacchus in Context,” in The Bacchus Conservation Project: The Story of a Sculpture, Caroline M. Rocheleau, ed. (Raleigh, North Carolina Museum of Art, 2020), 24–29.
[2] Morgan purchased the statue from Canessa in April 1911 (see copy of sales invoice from Morgan Library Archives, NCMA Curatorial file GL.58.2.1–3). The statue was in the Morgan collection until May 18, 1945 (see the copy of index card of the third auction held on this date, NCMA Curatorial file GL.58.2.1-3).
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