The Thorvaldsens Museum Archives

Comment on Ultimo 1797

The so-called Belvedere Torso is a Hellenistic work signed by Apollonios, son of Nestor from Athen. Earlier it was thought to be a statue of Hercules, see Il Museo Pio-Clementino, descritto da Giambattista e Ennio Qvirino Visconti, T. I-VI, Roma 1782-96, vol. II, plate X, p. 16-19 (copy in Thorvaldsens Museum, M134). Now it is thought that it is more likely to be a Silenus.
See also Les monumens antiiques du Musée Napoléon, vol. II, plate 37, text p. 81-82 (copy in Thorvaldsens Museum, M140).
Thorvaldsen acquired a cast of this statue, Thorvaldsens Museum, L55.

Last updated 05.03.2015