236 - Eros; Rome, 3rd century B.C.

Eros; Rome, 3rd century B.C. Patinated bronze. Measurements: 5 x 3.5 x 3 cm; 10.5 cm (height with base). Provenance: Family legacy of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection formed from the 1950s by successive generations of the family, through acquisitions in European galleries and auction houses. Small in size and remarkably refined in form, this small bronze figure of Eros depicts the young god of love in a composition of great liveliness, designed to be viewed from multiple angles. The depiction of Eros as a child or youth, often winged, became extraordinarily widespread in Greek and Hellenistic art, becoming one of the favorite motifs in small-scale sculpture. Of particular significance is the existence of a very similar specimen preserved at the Musée Pincé in Angers, France, with inventory number MTC 1119. A comparison with this example is particularly revealing, as it allows us to situate our piece within a tradition of small Hellenistic bronzes intended for contemplation and collecting, in which the reduced scale does not imply a sacrifice of dynamism or attention to modeling. The Musée Pincé itself houses a significant collection of Mediterranean antiquities, within which small bronzes constitute a significant portion of its holdings.