Capitoline Antinous at The Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris

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The Capitoline 'Antinous' is a marble statue of a young nude male unearthed at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli during the early excavations led by Conte Giuseppe Fede. It was acquired before 1733 by Alessandro Cardinal Albani, who considered it the crowning jewel of his collection. The statue was later purchased by Pope Clement XII in 1733 and became a cornerstone of the Capitoline Museums in Rome, where it remains to this day. The restored left leg and arm with its striking rhetorical hand gesture were contributed by Pietro Bracci. In the 18th century, it was regarded as one of the most exquisite Roman copies of a Greek statue globally. Its fleshy face and physique led some to believe that it represented Hadrian's lover Antinous, given his downturned look. The statue was among the artistic spoils taken to Paris under the Treaty of Tolentino in 1797 and remained there until 1815, when it was returned to Rome after Napoleon's downfall. Its hair differs from that found in more reliable Antinous-types, which adhere closely to a few established iconographic models. As such, it is now considered a Roman Imperial era copy of an early 4th century BC Greek statue of Hermes. This change in identification had begun before 1900, when Augustus Hare noted in his Walks in Rome that its identity had only been seriously challenged once and was even questionable. The head was almost certainly not Antinous's, yet it came to be paired with a body bearing a strong resemblance to the type of Antinous. A close comparison of the torso and arms raises the possibility that this fine statue might actually represent Hermes or a hero from an earlier age. The bust of the statue has become a popular variation of the sculpture. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access free of charge. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.