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The wings (one missing) on the head of this figure identify it as representing Mercury, the messenger of the gods. It is exquisitely detailed and larger than most statuettes made for household worship, suggesting that it was prominently displayed within the villa of a wealthy Roman family. The hairstyle dates the piece to the mid 1st century, when artists were still very much influenced by the Classical style of Greek art. His left hand would have held the "caduceus," or herald's staff, that is his attribute (familiar today as a medical symbol).

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
1fb8c76dcf9a00e2
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
25406
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "25406",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.605",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Mercury",
    "description": "The wings (one missing) on the head of this figure identify it as representing Mercury, the messenger of the gods. It is exquisitely detailed and larger than most statuettes made for household worship, suggesting that it was prominently displayed within the villa of a wealthy Roman family. The hairstyle dates the piece to the mid 1st century, when artists were still very much influenced by the Classical style of Greek art. His left hand would have held the \"caduceus,\" or herald's staff, that is his attribute (familiar today as a medical symbol).",
    "provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "mid 1st century CE (Roman Imperial)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.605",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
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    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_54.605_Back_DD_T11.jpg",
    "imageCount": 7,
    "pageCount": 7,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 30,
            "height": 12,
            "depth": 6
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 11 13/16 × W: 4 3/4 × D: 2 3/8 in. (30 × 12 × 6 cm)"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "25406",
    "label": "Mercury",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.605"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "25406",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.605",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Mercury",
    "description": "The wings (one missing) on the head of this figure identify it as representing Mercury, the messenger of the gods. It is exquisitely detailed and larger than most statuettes made for household worship, suggesting that it was prominently displayed within the villa of a wealthy Roman family. The hairstyle dates the piece to the mid 1st century, when artists were still very much influenced by the Classical style of Greek art. His left hand would have held the \"caduceus,\" or herald's staff, that is his attribute (familiar today as a medical symbol).",
    "provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "mid 1st century CE (Roman Imperial)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.605",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
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        "figurines"
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    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_54.605_Back_DD_T11.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_54.605_Back_DD_T11.jpg",
    "imageCount": 7,
    "pageCount": 7,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 30,
            "height": 12,
            "depth": 6
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 11 13/16 × W: 4 3/4 × D: 2 3/8 in. (30 × 12 × 6 cm)"
}
Document source extras
{
    "cul": "Roman",
    "dynasty": "Julio-Claudian (?)-Flavian (?)",
    "med": "cast bronze with silver coat and inlay",
    "creator_ids": [
        "6191"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "ROM"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
        "3012"
    ]
}
Page context
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    "seq": 1,
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    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/raw/PS1_54.605_Fnt_DD_T11.jpg",
    "mediaId": "1fb8c76dcf9a00e2"
}