Bearded Man with Animal | Harvard Art Museums

Identification and Creation

Object Number: 1973.20
Title: Bearded Man with Animal
Other Titles: Alternate Title: Bearded Man with Sheep
Classification: Sculpture
Work Type: statuette, sculpture
Date: n.d.
Places: Creation Place: Unidentified Region
Period: Modern
Culture: Roman
Persistent Link: https://hvrd.art/o/304021

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Mixed copper alloy

Technique

Cast, lost-wax process

Dimensions

10.1 x 6.1 x 3 cm (4 x 2 3/8 x 1 3/16 in.)

Technical Details

Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Mixed Copper Alloy:
Cu, 76.74; Sn, 2.88; Pb, 5.43; Zn, 14.23; Fe, 0.31; Ni, 0.1; Ag, 0.07; Sb, 0.07; As, 0.17; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, less than 0.005; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer

Technical Observations: The patina is dark green with spots of red. Although the corrosion layer is thin, there are small areas of underlying red corrosion products that appear to penetrate the metal, providing some indication of long-term burial. Minor scratches are present.

The statuette is a solid cast from a model formed directly in the wax. The hole on the top of the head is a casting flaw. There is no evidence of finishing work on the metal after casting. An iron element (9 x 9 mm) projects 3 mm from the figure’s lower back. The uneven level of the feet may indicate that this projecting element was a means of mounting the figure.

Henry Lie (submitted 2001)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line: Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mrs. Dorothy B. Austin
Accession Year: 1973
Object Number: 1973.20
Division: Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact: am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Published Catalogue Text: Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes at the Harvard Art Museums
This male, possibly bearded, figure stands frontally, holding a quadruped. The details of the statuette are rather indistinct. The man has short hair, ending at about the upper portions of his ears. His eyes are deeply inset; his nose is prominent and his mouth is a small horizontal gash within the beard. He may be nude, with a triangular shape at the base of his torso representing genitalia. He stands with his weight on his left foot and his right knee slightly bent. The heel of his right foot is prominent, making it appear as though he is wearing boots, but no other details of boots are depicted. His arms are spread and holding a small quadruped. He grips the hindquarters of the animal in his right hand and in his left he holds a vessel or sack, which is open and hollow. His thumbs are molded, but the fingers are only slightly indicated. The animal has its forepaws balanced on the man’s torso. Some texturing on the animal is used to indicate wool or fur. A spur of metal (possibly an oddly shaped leg) connects the torso of the animal to the right shoulder of the man. Except for the backs of the lower legs, which are fully formed in the round, the back of the figure is unfinished. It is also concave at the back of the head and the back of the shoulders. The elbows stick out prominently in the back. In the center of his back are the remains of a square-sectioned peg (1.0 x 1.0 cm). The peg on the back indicates that this might have been an attachment or applique of some kind.

The man may be represented feeding the animal from the sack he carries or otherwise putting the animal in that sack.

Lisa M. Anderson

Subjects and Contexts

Ancient Bronzes

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

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