Roman Marble Torso - Hercules Urinating

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd century CE. An expertly carved marble sculpture of Hercules' torso in the round - inebriated and caught in the act of relieving himself. The sculptor has rendered our hero's body with well-defined musculature and anatomy as well as a lifelike drunken pose. Note how his left leg is advanced and his weight is shifted with a naturalistically arched back, extended abdomen, and a protruding right gluteal cheek as he holds his genitals to urinate after indulging in too much wine. A cloak likely from the skin of the Nemean Lion he defeated in his first labor is draped over his shoulders. Although the head is missing, we do see the curled tendrils of Hercules' coiffure cascading down his back and those of his beard falling to his chest. Size: 15.94" H (40.5 cm)

Sculptures depicting a drunken Hercules urinating were actually fairly popular in ancient Rome and are generally referred to as Hercules mingens meaning "Hercules pees." This statue was modeled with a Hellenistic philosophy in mind. Hellenistic subjects did not fit the Classical ideal; subjects were oftentimes either very old or very young, disfigured, exhausted (the famous Boxer at Rest in the Museo Nazionale Romano-Palazzo Massimo all Terme), or drunk like this example.

Although most think of Hercules as the strongest of all ancient heroes who met immense challenges, he also enjoyed life and all of its indulgences whenever possible. A man with a strong appetite and very little restraint, Hercules definitely enjoyed fruit of the vine. So it should come as no surprise that he became inebriated from time to time, and following this, needed to relieve himself as we see depicted in this piece.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2014; ex-German private collection, acquired in the 1980's; acquired by current owner from German auction house in 2014, Pre-Columbian art - Works of art from antiquity, coins and medals, anniversary auction 300 - "150 years of art trade in the family Numismatic tradition since 1887," Munich, 24 September 2014.

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#149159
Condition Report: A torso section from a larger statue. Losses and abrasions to high-pointed areas commensurate with age. Mineral deposits grace the surface.