Mercury, Hendrick de Keyser (I), 1611
bronze, h 32.3cm Catalogue entry
This statuette can be identified by his winged hat as Mercury, the messenger of the gods in Classical mythology. In his right hand, he originally held a caduceus, a wand with two serpents entwined around it. De Keyser gave the figure a beautiful S-curve based on the classic contrapposto pose. The weight is placed on the right leg, balanced by the left arm, with the other arm and leg remaining free.