Hermes in Warandepark, Brussels

myminifactory

Hermes is a powerful Olympian god in Greek mythology, born of Zeus and Maia, the Pleiad. As the second-youngest of the Olympian gods, he excels at navigating boundaries and transitions. Quick-witted and cunning, Hermes effortlessly moves between the mortal world and the divine realm, serving as messenger and emissary for the gods. He also acts as a mediator between mortals and the divine, guiding souls into the afterlife. During the Hellenistic period, numerous depictions of Hermes emerged, often featuring notable figures of the time. By the 17th century, Hermes became a popular garden ornament or statue. Laurent Delvaux, a French sculptor born in Ghent in 1696 and deceased on February 24, 1778 in Nivelles, was a pupil of Pierre-Denis Plumier from Antwerp. In 1719, Delvaux joined Plumier in London, where they worked with Pieter Scheemakers at Plumier's studio. Their first project together was a commissioned sculpture for John Sheffield, the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, located in Westminster Abbey (1721/22). From 1723 to 1728, Delvaux and Scheemakers collaborated from their Millbank studio (Westminster) on tombs, monuments, and garden ornaments within Westminster Abbey. In 1928, they traveled to Rome to study classical sculpture and master the art of working with marble. However, Scheemakers returned to England in 1730, while Delvaux remained until 1732 before returning to Nivelles. Delvaux received support from Charles of Lorraine, a renowned art enthusiast who patronized several young artists at that time. Delvaux produced numerous commissioned works for abbeys and European royal courts. Much of his work has been preserved and can be visited in monasteries and museums throughout Belgium, particularly those showcasing the artistic legacy of the Habsburg Netherlands. The Parc de Bruxelles, also known as Brussels Park or Warandepark, is a city park situated at the heart of Brussels. Spanning approximately 13 hectares, this symmetrical park lies between rue Royale, rue de la Loi, Ducale, and the Place des Palais. The park serves as a tranquil oasis between the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Nation, where the Federal Parliament of Belgium resides. The park boasts an impressive array of features, including a large fountain, various busts and statues, neoclassical entrance gates, and a bandstand. Within the park's boundaries, approximately sixty images depict subjects drawn from ancient mythology. Most of these artworks were relocated to the park from other locations, such as the old ducal Royal Park, the castle of Tervuren, following the death of architect Charles Alexander of Lorraine. Over time, the park's images have been affected by war, vandalism, and pollution. Consequently, most of them have been replaced with copies. The original works are now housed in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels, while damaged pieces and lesser-quality artworks reside in the Maison du Roi Museum. Initially, the images were painted a dull gray or color of French stone, but under new aesthetic ideas introduced in 1921, they were stripped of their painting. 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 around the globe. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby that you would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.