A small Mannerist bronze sculpture of the mythological figure Ganymede. The youthful, muscular shepherd is shown in a dynamic pose, leaning back as he is carried upward by Zeus in the form of a large, powerful eagle with detailed feathers. Ganymede wraps his arms around the eagle’s neck in an affectionate embrace rather than a struggle. The bronze has a polished finish, emphasizing the contrast between the smooth, delicate body of the youth and the textured, strong form of the eagle.
Ganymede by Benvenuto Cellini, 1548-1550, (bronze)
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