Hermes in Warandepark, Brussels

myminifactory

Hermes is a powerful Olympian god in Greek mythology, son of Zeus and Maia the Pleiad. As second youngest of the Olympian gods, he's known for navigating transitions and boundaries with ease. He's quick-witted and cunning, moving freely between mortal and divine realms as a messenger and emissary of the gods. His role is that of an intercessor between mortals and the divine, guiding souls into the afterlife. The Hellenistic period saw numerous depictions of Hermes, often through the guise of a popular celebrity of the time. By the 17th Century, Hermes became a sought-after ornament or statue in gardens. Laurent Delvaux, a skilled French sculptor from Ghent, was born in 1696 and passed away on February 24, 1778. Delvaux studied under the guidance of Antwerp's Pierre-Denis Plumier before moving to London with Plumier in 1719. In London, Delvaux collaborated with Pieter Scheemakers at Plumier's studio. Their first project was a commissioned sculpture for John Sheffield, the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, situated in Westminster Abbey (1721/22). From 1723 to 1728, they worked together from their studio in Millbank (Westminster) on the tombs of Westminster Abbey, monuments, and garden ornaments. In 1730, Scheemakers returned to England while Delvaux remained until 1732 before returning to Nivelles. Delvaux received support from Charles of Lorraine, an art connoisseur who backed several young artists at the time. After Delvaux's passing in 1778, numerous works commissioned by abbeys and European royal courts were preserved and can still be visited, especially in monasteries and museums in Belgium. Gilles-Lambert Godecharle was a pupil of Delvaux. Parc de Bruxelles, also known as Brussels Park or Warandepark, is a city park situated in the heart of Brussels. Warandepark spans approximately 13 hectares, designed symmetrically, and located between rue Royale, rue de la Loi, Ducale, and Place des Palais. The park lies directly between the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Nation, where the Federal Parliament of Belgium resides. The park features a large fountain, various busts, statues, neoclassical entrance gates, and a bandstand. In the Royal Park, about sixty images depict subjects drawn from ancient mythology. Most of these images were brought to the park from elsewhere, particularly the old ducal Royal Park, the castle of Tervuren, after the death of architect Charles Alexander of Lorraine. The images in the park have been affected by war, vandalism, and pollution over time. Many original images have been replaced with copies, while valuable originals are housed in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels. Damaged works and pieces of lesser quality can be found in the Maison du Roi Museum. Initially, the images were painted gray or French stone color, but under new aesthetic ideas, they were stripped of their painting in 1921. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. 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 find out how you can help.