The Abduction of Polyxena - Grand Tour Alabaster Sculpture
Description
Grand Tour Sculpture Group, after the original by Pio Fedi, depicting the Abduction or Sacrifice of Polyxena.
According to mythology, Achilles demanded that Polyxena be sacrificed after his death due to her betrayal. This sculpture group portrays Neoptolemus with a raised sword as he leads Polyxena to her sacrifice. Polyxena goes willingly so that she may die as a princess — that is, honorably and covered. Hecuba, Polyxena’s mother, tries to stop her. On the ground lies her slain son, Polites, the brother of Polyxena.
The original by Pio Fedi stands in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence and is now part of the Uffizi collection. Pio Fedi’s sculpture is in good company, located near Michelangelo’s David. In the gallery itself, it is accompanied by works from Giambologna and Cellini. This sculpture group and its pedestal were created around 1860, shortly after the original was unveiled. The original sculpture quickly became very popular.
This piece was commissioned during the Grand Tour and brought home.
Condition: The pedestal shows cracks and restorations. The sculpture is missing a toe and has undergone some minor restorations on the sword and fingers. There are also other logical signs of wear. The pedestal is rotatable. Material: Alabaster, with a signature on the inside of the group’s base; pedestal material: serpentine.
Dimensions of the sculpture: ± H 118 x W 58 x D 48 cm
Dimensions of the base: H 105 x W 58 x D 48 cm
