★ Very Rare Subject ★

A ROMAN BRONZE ATTACHMENT WITH EROS BINDING HERCULES
Circa 1st-2nd century AD.
Fine circular attachment worked in three-quarter relief, depicting Hercules nude standing front with his hands tied behind his back, his head turned to right. Behind the divine hero, a tree. Next to him to the right, Eros is shown with curly hair and the typical central braid, seated nude on Hercules' lionskin. The rare subject of Eros binding Hercules is symbolic of the power of love being greater even than the strength of the greatest hero. Small flaw below Eros' head.
H 70 mm

Ex European private collection, acquired on the German art market before 2010.