A Roman or Later Marble Torso of a God

*A Roman or Later Marble Torso of a GodCirca 1st – 2nd Century C.E. with Later Carving
possibly Mercury, depicted nude in contrapposto with a mantel pinned at one shoulder.
Height 34 1/4 x width 17 3/4 inches.
Sold by the Art Institute of Chicago

Provenance:
Gift of Martin A. Ryerson to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1897

Continental Decorative Arts

Parts of the torso appear ancient (the upper section of the chest, the carving at the recessed part of the proper left side), and parts may have been re-carved (the lower half of the front, part of the back). The torso does not come with any documentation and is not known to have ever been exhibited. A photo showing the item's entry in the Art Institute's 1897 Registrar's Ledger is available upon request to support its provenance.