DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15100#0113
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PLATE XXX.
HERMAPHRODITE WITH BIRD.
A terminal statue of an Hermaphrodite. The human body
extends downwards as low as the hips, whence it gradually as-
sumes the form of a square pilaster diminishing in size towards
the base. The hair is divided along the top of the head, the front
and side locks are drawn together and turned up towards the back
of the head, where they are tied into a knot; behind, the hair is
combed straight down towards the neck, where it is collected into
a thick bunch of curls almost resembling flowers. The body is
entirely unclothed. The right hand holds a large bunch of grapes
to feed a bird which is held in the left hand. Of this bird, the
head, neck and leg are restored, and to them the modern artist has
given the form of those parts of an Ibis. It is not very easy to
ascertain what description of bird was originally intended, but it
resembles a goose, at least as much as any other fowl, and though
such a bird does not appear to be peculiarly entitled to caresses,
yet it is sometimes so honoured by Cupid. In the British Mu-
seum is a small bronze statue of Cupid caressing a goose, among
the bronzes found at Pompeii1 a small figure of this god holding a
goose in his arms; he is so represented on a bronze2 lamp in the
Museum at Naples, and in the British Museum is a small silver
figure of a naked boy similarly engaged. Pliny3 speaks of a group
1 Barre, Recueil des Peintures &c. d'Herculanum et Pompeii. Bronzes, Ire. Serie,
pi. 89. 2 Mus. Borbonic. iv. tav. 14.
3 Hist. Nat. xxxiv. 8, s. 19.
PLATE XXX.
HERMAPHRODITE WITH BIRD.
A terminal statue of an Hermaphrodite. The human body
extends downwards as low as the hips, whence it gradually as-
sumes the form of a square pilaster diminishing in size towards
the base. The hair is divided along the top of the head, the front
and side locks are drawn together and turned up towards the back
of the head, where they are tied into a knot; behind, the hair is
combed straight down towards the neck, where it is collected into
a thick bunch of curls almost resembling flowers. The body is
entirely unclothed. The right hand holds a large bunch of grapes
to feed a bird which is held in the left hand. Of this bird, the
head, neck and leg are restored, and to them the modern artist has
given the form of those parts of an Ibis. It is not very easy to
ascertain what description of bird was originally intended, but it
resembles a goose, at least as much as any other fowl, and though
such a bird does not appear to be peculiarly entitled to caresses,
yet it is sometimes so honoured by Cupid. In the British Mu-
seum is a small bronze statue of Cupid caressing a goose, among
the bronzes found at Pompeii1 a small figure of this god holding a
goose in his arms; he is so represented on a bronze2 lamp in the
Museum at Naples, and in the British Museum is a small silver
figure of a naked boy similarly engaged. Pliny3 speaks of a group
1 Barre, Recueil des Peintures &c. d'Herculanum et Pompeii. Bronzes, Ire. Serie,
pi. 89. 2 Mus. Borbonic. iv. tav. 14.
3 Hist. Nat. xxxiv. 8, s. 19.