Roman Giallo Antico Marble Statuette of a Greyhound 1st -...

Roman Giallo Antico Marble Statuette of a Greyhound
1st - 2nd century AD; length cm 32; height cm 14. Reduced Roman copy of a lost Greek bronze showing a dog lying down, on a typical oval pedestal. This sculpture completely refers to the Hellenistic tradition: is naturalistic and expressive; the great anatomical realism appears in the rendering of the smooth and taut skin, then of the skeletal apparatus, then of the lying pose. The incredible expression of this dog is a mix of apprehension, sadness and boredom, as if had lost someone, as if was waiting for him. It comes to mind Argos, that stayed alive twenty years waiting for Odysseus, and as soon as he saw that Odysseus was home safe he was able to die. Reference: comparison in British Museum (1814.0704.1129, chalcedony figure of a dog lying down, 1st - 2nd century AD). Provenance: English private collection since 2009; formerly with Vincent Hilary (Rouen, France).