What is a Grand Tour bronze Apollo sculpture?

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, European travellers on the Grand Tour purchased reduced-scale bronze reproductions of classical Greek and Roman statues as souvenirs. Figures of Apollo, particularly based on the ancient Apollo Belvedere in the Vatican, were among the most frequently reproduced classical subjects.

How were nineteenth-century bronze sculptures constructed?

Nineteenth-century bronzes were predominantly cast using the lost-wax (cire perdue) process or sand casting techniques. After casting, the metal was hand-chased to refine details and treated with chemical patination solutions to achieve a controlled dark brown, green, or black surface colour.

How can you identify authentic nineteenth-century classical bronzes?

Authentic period bronzes display precise hand-chasing, crisp anatomical details, and natural wear to the patina on exposed surfaces. They typically feature heavy cast metal walls, hand-cut threaded rods or square nuts underneath the base, and occasionally foundry stamps or artist signatures.

How do you style a bronze classical sculpture in a modern interior?

A classical bronze figure serves as a focal point when placed on a fireplace mantelpiece, within a bookshelf, or atop a side table. Pairing dark bronze metalwork against neutral plaster walls or rich timber surfaces creates visual contrast in contemporary or traditional schemes.

How should an antique bronze sculpture be cleaned and preserved?

Dust the sculpture regularly using a dry, soft-bristled brush or lint-free microfiber cloth. To protect the original patina, apply a thin coat of clear microcrystalline wax once a year and buff gently, avoiding chemical polishes, water, or abrasive cleaners.

for sale €1,814 $1,969

£1,550

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016

View Dealers Stock Page

About Us

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA CINOA

Relevant Links

Victorian Bronze Statue

Brown Patina Bronze Figure

Neoclassical Bronze Figurine

19th Century Classical Bronze

Id #SA988626

PDF

SAVE

Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

Name: Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA988626
Price: 1550 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a truly magnificent antique Victorian patinated bronze sculpture of the famous Greek God Apollo, modelled upon a shaped circular socle, inscribed monogram 'NF' and numbered 21170 to the underside, circa 1860 in date.

This stunning bronze sculpture features Apollo in classical pose after the celebrated marble sculpture of the "Apollo Belvedere". The nude figure is standing tall with his right arm resting on a tree and his left arm outstretched.

Slung over Apollo’s shoulders is his quiver held in place by a strap. As exactly in the original Apollo Belvedere, the God here appears in magnificent form and physique, and he is shown just moments after releasing his arrow. Apollo stands “contrapposto”, with one leg remaining rigid while the other is relaxed;

This high-quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional "lost wax" process, otherwise known as the "cire perdue" method.

This is a splendid antique bronze sculpture and it will no doubt become the centrepiece of your collection.

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 36.5 x Width 23 x Depth 14 & Weight 12.5 kg

Dimensions in inches:

Height 1 foot, 2 inches x Width 9 inches x Depth 5 inches & Weight 27.6 lbs

Apollo has been variously recognised as a god of light and the sun, truth prophecy, healing, music, poetry, and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto and has a twin sister, the huntress - Artemis. Apart from his heroic courage dashingly handsome Apollo was also known for number of love affairs with both nymphs and mortal women.

The Apollo Belvedere (also called the Pythian Apollo or Apollo of the Belvedere) is a celebrated marble sculpture from Classical Antiquity.

The Apollo is now thought to be an original Roman re-creation of Hadrianic date (ca. 120–140). The distinctively Roman foot-wear is one reason scholars believe it is not a copy of an original Greek statue. It was rediscovered in central Italy in the late 15th century during the Italian Renaissance and was placed on semi-public display in the Vatican Palace in 1511, where it remains. It is now in the Cortile del Belvedere of the Pio-Clementine Museum of the Vatican Museums complex.

From the mid-18th century, it was considered the greatest ancient sculpture by ardent neoclassicists, and for centuries it epitomized the ideals of aesthetic perfection for Europeans and westernized parts of the world.

Lost Wax Method

sometimes called by the French name of cire perdue or the Latin, cera perduta is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artists sculpture.

In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised.

Contrapposto is an Italian term that means counterpoise. It is used in the visual arts to describe a human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot so that its shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs in the axial plane.

Our reference: A3293

Physical Dimensions

Height

36.5cm (14.37")

Width

23cm (9.06")

Depth

14cm (5.51")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Antique Bronze Apollo Sculpture to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA988626

Dealers Internal Reference

A3293

Description

“

This stunning bronze sculpture features Apollo in classical pose after the celebrated marble sculpture of the "Apollo Belvedere".

Regent Antiques

The nude figure is standing tall with his right arm resting on a tree and his left arm outstretched.

fig 1. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 1. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

Slung over Apollo’s shoulders is his quiver held in place by a strap. As exactly in the original Apollo Belvedere, the God here appears in magnificent form and physique, and he is shown just moments after releasing his arrow. Apollo stands “contrapposto”, with one leg remaining rigid while the other is relaxed;

fig 2. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 2. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

This high-quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional "lost wax" process, otherwise known as the "cire perdue" method.

This is a splendid antique bronze sculpture and it will no doubt become the centrepiece of your collection.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 3. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 36.5 x Width 23 x Depth 14 & Weight 12.5 kg

Dimensions in inches:

Height 1 foot, 2 inches x Width 9 inches x Depth 5 inches & Weight 27.6 lbs

fig 4. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 4. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

Apollo has been variously recognised as a god of light and the sun, truth prophecy, healing, music, poetry, and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto and has a twin sister, the huntress - Artemis. Apart from his heroic courage dashingly handsome Apollo was also known for number of love affairs with both nymphs and mortal women.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 5. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

The Apollo Belvedere (also called the Pythian Apollo or Apollo of the Belvedere) is a celebrated marble sculpture from Classical Antiquity.

The Apollo is now thought to be an original Roman re-creation of Hadrianic date (ca. 120–140). The distinctively Roman foot-wear is one reason scholars believe it is not a copy of an original Greek statue. It was rediscovered in central Italy in the late 15th century during the Italian Renaissance and was placed on semi-public display in the Vatican Palace in 1511, where it remains. It is now in the Cortile del Belvedere of the Pio-Clementine Museum of the Vatican Museums complex.

fig 6. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 6. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

From the mid-18th century, it was considered the greatest ancient sculpture by ardent neoclassicists, and for centuries it epitomized the ideals of aesthetic perfection for Europeans and westernized parts of the world.

fig 7. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 7. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

Lost Wax Method

sometimes called by the French name of cire perdue or the Latin, cera perduta is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artists sculpture.

In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised.

fig 8. A nineteenth-century dark brown bronze sculpture depicting the classical Greek god Apollo standing with draped cloth on a circular base. — fig 8. Antique Victorian Bronze Sculpture of Greek God Apollo 19th Century

Contrapposto is an Italian term that means counterpoise. It is used in the visual arts to describe a human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot so that its shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs in the axial plane.

Our reference: A3293