After a model by Stefano Maderno (1571-1636) Italian, 17th century

Christie's London, 7 December 1993, lot 122;
private collection, England

J. Warren, Beauty and Power. Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Peter Marino Collection,exh. cat. The Wallace Collection, London, The Huntington Art Collections, San Marino, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, London, 2010, p. 86

Overall the condition of the bronze is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The bronze is cast in sections and joints are visible above Hercules' knees and through Antaeus' proper left knee. There are numerous casting flaws, such as small fissures and lacunae (e.g. to below Hercules' arms, to Hercules' lower back, to the feet of both figures and to Antaeus' proper right shin). There is are larger lacunae to the back of Antaeus' head and to Hercules' proper right foot. Some lacunae appear to be filled with wax, such as to underneath Antaeus' feet. There is a larger fissure to Antaeus' proper left elbow. There are various small nicks to the surface. Antaeus probably held a lost attribute in his proper right hand. There are black marks, including to Antaeus' chest, neck and proper right arm. There is greening to some of the crevices. There is some rubbing to the surface, including to Antaeus' proper right knee. The base is in good condition with some splitting to the wood consistent with material.
"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 fine bronze compares closely with another cast of Stefano Maderno's Hercules and Antaeus in the Peter Marino collection, which is believed to date to the 17th century (size: 47cm., see, Warren, op. cit.no. 7). In both groups, Hercules' legs and Antaeus' proper left leg have been cast separately, leaving visible casting joints. An early terracotta model of the Hercules and Antaeus, signed and dated by Maderno in 1620, can be found in the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (inv. no. 198I.I). The present group is, however, closer to the terracotta, which is signed and dated 1622, in the Galleria Franchetti alla Ca' d'Oro, Venice (inv. no. 81). It is from this group that each of the later bronze versions of the model are believed to have been cast, although mostly without the treetrunk support and lionskin (Warren, op. cit., p. 85). The present bronze differs from each of the other known versions of the Hercules and Antaeus, both in bronze, terracotta and clay, in that Antaeus' proper right arm and hand are raised, rather than being clenched to Hercules' forehead.

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Pope-Hennessy, Catalogue of Italian sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1964, vol. II, pp. 593, 594; A. Nava Cellini, Maderno, Milan, 1966; H. R. Weihrauch, Europäische bronzestattuetten 15.-18. Jahrhundert, Braunschweig, 1967, pp. 246-247, fig. 299