Good quality, rare pair of 19th century Neapolitan Grand Tour patinated bronzes of the Boy Runners or Athletes signed Sommer Napoli for the Sommer Foundry, Naples. After the life size Roman originals in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, discovered in the 1750s in the garden of the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum. They were initially believed to portray two wrestlers and because of this they were placed facing each other. Additional studies came to the conclusion that they depicted runners. They are currently positioned in the museum as if they were athletes taking part in a race. Often assumed to be identical there are very subtle differences in the position of the runners'' heads and arms. Italy, Naples, circa 1880.Based in London, we are dealers in fine decorative antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. We specialise in this era of enlightenment, neoclassicism and the Grand Tour, with its far reaching influence on style and taste in Britain, Continental Europe and beyond: elegance in the age of Napoleon. Our extensive stock covers all aspects of this period and decorative antiques influenced by the period. We constantly source new, beautiful items and upload to our site regularly. We are first and foremost antique collectors with over thirty years of experience; we only buy what we love and we hope you will too. Additional images can be supplied on request. More items are available on our website http://www.cellantiques.co.ukHeight is 17.5cm (6.9inches)
Width is 5cm (2.0inches)
Depth is 8cm (3.1inches)