Italian, Naples, 19th Century After the Antique

Halsted B. Vander Poel (1911-2003), New York;
his sale, New York, Christie's, 23 April 2004, lot 88

Overall the condition of the bronze is very good with some minor wear to the patina consistent with age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Farnese Bull was discovered in 1545 in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. It soon became one of the most famous antique marbles, principally due to its enormous size. The group represents The Punishment of Dirce, the Greek fable in which Dirce, the wife of Licus King of Thebes, was tied to a wild bull for mistreating her husband's first wife Antiope. Soon after its discovery, the marble was acquired by the Farnese family. In 1788 it was transported to Naples and eventually installed in the Museo Nazionale, where it remains. The present bronze would have appealed especially to Grand Tourists, for whom a stay in Naples was a prerequisite of any visit to Italy, particularly after the discovery of the ancient sites at Herculaneum and Pompeii in the mid-18th century.

RELATED LITERATURE
F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the Antique. The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven and Yale 1981, pp. 165-7, no. 15