Bertolami Fine Art - Piazza Lovatelli 1, 00186 Roma
ASTA 267 - GLITTICA ASTA 267 - GLITTICA
Friday 7 July 2023 hours 12:30 (UTC +00:00)
A ROMAN RED JASPER INTAGLIO. HERCULES CAPTURES THE DOE OF CERINEA.
A ROMAN RED JASPER INTAGLIO. HERCULES CAPTURES THE DOE OF CERINEA.
1st - 2nd century A.D.
12 x 14 x 2 mm.
The doe of Cerinea was, in Greek mythology, a doe with golden horns, silver and bronze legs that have been dedicated to Artemis by the nymph Taygete when the goddess had saved her from being pursued by Zeus. Cerinea's doe fled without ever stopping, bewitching those who pursued her, thus dragging them to a country from which they would never return; since she was a sacred doe, her blood could not be shed. When Heracles was commissioned by Eurystheus to capture it, initially he limited himself to chasing it: the doe took refuge by climbing a mountain called Artemisio and tried to cross the Ladon river, but during the crossing Heracles managed to capture it by hitting it with an arrow in one point of the cartilaginous paw, therefore devoid of blood vessels; then loading it on his shoulders he carried it to Arcadia. The doe was finally taken to Mycenae and released there. The subject rarely appears on the gems. In this stone the hero faces left and stands over the sacred doe, holding it by the horns and pressing his right knee on his back to block it. Hercules' body is in muscular tension showing off all its legendary strength. A club behind him. Probably inspired by a Greek model. Fine detailed execution for the size. The physiognomic features of the hero recall the Antonine portraits. Signs of wear.
Provenance: U.K. private collection acquired in the british art market.