Hephaestion Bronze

[Alexias]

Hephaestion Correr Venice.jpg (251.33 KiB) Viewed 9286 times

This head is from the Correr museum in Venice. It is a Roman copy of an original allegedly dating to 323 BC.

It looks a little like the Prado bronze, which was for a while identified as Hephaestion, but is no longer identified as such.

[system1988]

Very interesting , why not put together with this the head in Malibu Museum ? Are there similarities ?

[Alexias]

Thanks. I haven't been able to find out any information about this bronze or on what basis it is identified as Hephaestion.

Anyway, here's the Getty head of Hephaestion. Personally, I think it is too bland and generic to be a portrait, and it was re-cut in antiquity.

Hephaestion - Getty.jpg (161.36 KiB) Viewed 9159 times

[Jeanne Reames]

The Getty head is, if not an outright forgery, then surely idealized into uselessness as a portrait. Nor is it labeled as Hephaistion.

I wish we knew more about the Prado Bronze. It's now IDed as Demetrios P., although when I compare it to other Demetrios portraits, I don't see it as all that similar. But it's also unlabeled, so attributing it as Hephaistion is even more shaky, alas. It's a stunning piece. I've never seen the Correr Bronze attested as Hephaistion. Andrew Stewart doesn't list it. I'd want to see more information about it, including any publication about it. I'll do some digging.

The only named/labeled image of him is the dedication plaque in the Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum, but I'm skeptical of that, too, as a portrait just based on the fact these were often pre-cut at workshops, inscribed once purchased. The face might, or might not, have been added. The dedication is from a man but a woman is shown on the statue. Maybe that's meant to be his wife, but I still find it as further evidence that the dedicator purchased something precut; he didn't have it specially made for him.

In short, I'm not convinced that we have ANY reliable portrait of Hephaistion, unless a (labeled) bust pops up.

[Alexias]

In short, I'm not convinced that we have ANY reliable portrait of Hephaistion, unless a (labeled) bust pops up.

Yes, there are too many generic portraits out there that could be anyone.

I have been aware of the Venetian bronze for quite a few years but have only seen a blurry photo taken through glass, so when I came across this photo, I posted it. I have searched the museum's catalogue but can't come up with any results. Because of the similarity with the Prado bronze, I wonder if it got labelled as Hephaestion after the Prado one did. This though is nearer life-size but the Prado one is gigantic (one of the reasons I don't think it is Hephaestion as who would have commissioned a 15 foot bronze 30 years after his death). Anyway the Prado bronze used to be identified as Alexander and, I think, was owned by Catherine the Great as such. It has also been identified as the hero Meleager. This bronze though has similarities with the helmeted figure on the Sidon sarcophagus.

DSCI01622.JPG (227.74 KiB) Viewed 9123 times

[Alexias]

A little more information about this 'bronze'. It isn't actually bronze but an igneous rock called basanite and is of 'Greek civilisation' dating to the 2nd century B.C., which might mean it was made in Graecia Magna (southern Italy) as basanite is found in central southern Italy.

It has been known since at least the 16th century, according to Wikimedia Commons - 'Formerly in the Giovanni Grimani collection, acquired by the Republic of Venice in 1587'. Giovanni Grimani was an an Italian bishop and patriarch.

It has been identified as Hephaestion since at least February 2006, according to the description on Getty images.

[Jeanne Reames]

Thanks, Alexias.