Hermes and the Infant Dionysus is a marble statue found at Olympia, Greece. Excavators led by Ernst Curtius uncovered it on May 8, 1877, in the Temple of Hera, and six more finds completed it. It is displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
Tradition credits the work to Praxiteles and dates it to the 4th century BC, based on a remark by the traveler Pausanias. Art historians disagree strongly. No ancient replicas have been identified, and the link rests on a single passing mention. The marble is high-quality Parian stone.
Hermes alone stands about 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall, or about 12 feet (3.7 meters) with the base. The face and torso are highly polished, while the back shows tool marks and is unfinished. Traces of cinnabar and gilding were found on the hair and sandal straps.
Comments