Antinous

myminifactory

Antinous was a youth celebrated for his remarkable beauty, hailing from Bithynia in northwestern Asia Minor - present-day Turkey. As the beloved companion of Emperor Hadrian, Antinous' life tragically ended when he drowned himself in the Nile River in 130 AD. Following his demise, he was deified by the Roman Empire, revered as a deity. This exquisite statue is one of numerous masterpieces crafted to commemorate Antinous' life, drawing inspiration from a classical Greek prototype dating back to the 5th century BC. In the late 18th century, the skilled Roman sculptor Pierantoni meticulously restored this work of art, incorporating a cup and jug that now adorn the figure. By doing so, he cleverly reinterpreted Antinous as Ganymede offering ambrosia to Jupiter - an allegory subtly referencing Hadrian's divinity. This remarkable statue was later acquired by Leverhulme at the sale of Thomas Hope's impressive collection.