After the Antique: A lead figure of the Borghese warrior, mid 18th century

This figure was first recorded in 1611 and found at Nettuno and by 1613 was in the collection of cardinal Borghese. By 1650 it was housed in a room named after it in the Villa Borghese as it had become one of the most celebrated figures from antiquity. Napoleon Bonaparte purchased it in 1807 and ttook it  to Paris where it was housed in the Musee Napoleon. Copies were very sparingly produced, Charles 1^st of England had one by 1631 as gradually did the other significant royal families of Europe, the figure was also adapted as a fountain at the Peterhof in St Petersburg. Owing to the esteem that the figure was held in during the 18^th Century more copies were produced and details became adapted as in the present example. In England figures are still to be found at Woburn, Wilton and Knole amongst others. There has been numerous suggestions that the figure is not a gladiator but none has yet to provide a totally convincing argument as to the subject matter of this piece.