Child With Goose at the Institut für Klassische Archäologie, Vienna

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Boethus, a renowned Greek sculptor of the Hellenistic era, left an indelible mark on the art world despite his life dates remaining shrouded in mystery. Though precise records are scarce, historians estimate that he flourished in the 2nd century BCE, with some sources pinpointing his birthplace as Chalcedon. Boethus's artistic prowess was particularly evident in his depictions of children, with a notable series capturing a young boy's intense struggle to tame a goose, multiple copies of which are now housed in esteemed museums worldwide. His oeuvre also includes a girl engrossed in a game of dice and a boy delicately extracting a thorn, showcasing the artist's versatility. As Pliny attests, Boethus's creative endeavors extended beyond sculpture, as he experimented with silver, leaving behind an enduring legacy. The scarcity of specific details about his life is due in part to the commonality of the name Boethus in ancient Greece, making it a challenge for historians to separate fact from fiction.