Eugenio Battiglia

Overall the condition is good with dirt and weathering to the surface consistent with age. There are restorations to the proper left hand. There are a number of naturally occuring inclusions to the marble throughout. There is veining to the marble consistent to the material, including to the back and face. A few of the inclusions and open veins have been filled with wax. There are areas of dryness to the surface of the marble. There is a prominent line of inclusions running through the top of the head. The marble would benefit from a professional clean.
"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."

This impressive marble is carved after the famous Discobolus, which is recorded by the ancient writers Lucian and Quintilian as having been created by Myron, the 5th-century Greek sculptor. The Discobolus was celebrated by ancient writers for its beauty and naturalistic anatomy, qualities which made it, in their eyes, one of the crowning artistic achievements of Classical art. In 1781, a full marble copy of the sculpture was discovered at the Villa Palombara on the Esquiline Hill, Rome. Achieving instant fame and distinction, the sculpture was moved around various prestigious palaces of Rome. In 1938, after pursuing it fervently, Adolf Hitler obtained it and displayed it in the Glyptothek, Munich. It was eventually returned to Italy in 1948 and placed in the Museo Nazionale Romano, where it remains today.

Copied frequently in antiquity and since its discovery, the Discobolus has captured popular imagination for centuries. It represents an ideal of youthful beauty and health; it maintains an element of intrigue with its association to a greater undiscovered antiquity. Eugenio Battiglia, a Tuscan artist working in Florence in the nineteenth century, produced this fine version of the renowned sculpture. It is a beautiful and powerful work in itself, while also reflecting the enduring appeal of the antique and its original mastery of sculpture.

RELATED LITERATURE
F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the Antique. The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven/ London, 1981, pp. 199-202