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Document source 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).
Page data
- Page
- 5
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 44199ba8dc4dd4c2
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 25406
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
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"contentType": "object",
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"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)",
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],
"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"
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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)",
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Document source extras
{
"cul": "Roman",
"dynasty": "Julio-Claudian (?)-Flavian (?)",
"med": "cast bronze with silver coat and inlay",
"creator_ids": [
"6191"
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}
Page context
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