Cleveland Apollo

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In ancient times, Roman author Pliny the Elder penned in his book Natural History (34.69-70) that renowned sculptor Praxiteles had crafted a magnificent bronze sculpture depicting youthful Apollo poised to strike down a lizard with an arrow. He coined the epithet sauroktonos (lizard-slayer) to describe Praxiteles's masterpiece. Several Roman marble replicas of the artwork have survived, proving its enduring popularity throughout the Imperial period. These replicas showcase a young figure of Apollo leaning against a sturdy, leafless tree trunk, upon which a lizard is climbing. As a result, this sculptural type has been known since Roman times as Apollo Sauroktonos. In 2004, the Cleveland Museum of Art acquired the only full-sized bronze version of this sculptural type in existence. Experts remain divided on whether this statue is the original bronze created by Praxiteles or an exceptional ancient copy. The statue has posed a contentious issue for the museum due to its uncertain provenance. It was sold to the museum by an antiques business previously convicted of selling looted artifacts, fueling suspicions that the statue was recovered illicitly and eventually sold to the museum. This sculpture is a modified version of the Apollo Sauroctonus hosted at Scan the World. The tree trunk, left arm, and right forearm were removed, after which the figure was tilted forward and to its left to match the lean of the Cleveland Apollo. A new base was created to closely replicate the bronze statue.