Antiques M.S. Rau | Wedgwood Black Basalt Library Bust Of Mercury

This Model Is Attributed To John Flaxman, Jr., A Celebrated English Sculptor, Illustrator And Designer, Considered A Leading Artist In The Neoclassical Style In England. In This Expertly Rendered Black Basalt Bust, Mercury, The Fleet-Footed Roman God Of Commerce, Communication And Transport, Is Depicted In A Winged Helmet On A Waisted Circular Socle. Turned To The Left, His Profile Is Confident And Youthful. The Virtuosic Treatment Of Mercury’S Wavy Mane Is A Testament To Flaxman’S Artistry And Wedgwood’S Remarkable Skill As A Sculptor.

This Work Is Executed In Black Basalt, A Material That Is Considered One Of Josiah Wedgwood’S Most Revolutionary Creations. First Developed In The 1760S, This Rich, Smooth Stoneware Was Especially Suitable For Casting And Was Used For A Myriad Of Items, Including Vases, Urns And Remarkable Sculptural Forms Such As This Bust.

Impressed Uppercase Mark On Back And Socle.

19Th Century

11 1/8″ Wide X 10 1/4″ Deep X 17 1/2“ High