Hermes in Warandepark, Brussels

myminifactory

Hermes is a powerful Olympian god in Greek mythology, born of Zeus and Maia, the Pleiad. He's the second youngest among the gods, known for his role in transitions and boundaries. Quick-witted and cunning, he effortlessly moves between mortal and divine realms as messenger and emissary of the gods, intercessor between humans and the divine, and conductor of souls to the afterlife. The Hellenistic period saw a surge in depictions of Hermes, often through association with famous figures of the time. By the 17th century, Hermes became a popular ornament or statue in gardens. Laurent Delvaux was a French sculptor born in Ghent in 1696 and died in Nivelles on February 24, 1778. He studied under Pierre-Denis Plumier, an Antwerp sculptor, before moving to London with Plumier in 1719. Delvaux worked alongside Pieter Scheemakers in Plumier's studio, where they created a commissioned sculpture for John Sheffield, the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, at Westminster Abbey (1721/22). They collaborated from 1723 to 1728 on tombs, monuments, and garden ornaments in their Millbank studio. In 1730, Scheemakers returned to England while Delvaux remained until 1732. Delvaux was supported by Charles of Lorraine, a renowned art patron who backed several young artists at the time. After his return to Nivelles, Delvaux continued producing commissioned works for abbeys and European royal courts. Many of his creations have been preserved and can be seen in monasteries and museums across Belgium. Gilles-Lambert Godecharle was a student of Delvaux. The Parc de Bruxelles, also known as Brussels Park or Warandepark, is a central city park in Brussels. Measuring approximately 13 hectares, the park is symmetrically designed and situated between the rue Royale, rue de la Loi, Ducale, and the Place des Palais. The park lies directly between the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Nation, where the Federal Parliament of Belgium resides. Decorated with a large fountain, various busts, statues, neoclassical entrance gates, and a bandstand, the park features around sixty images depicting subjects from ancient mythology. Most of these were brought to the park from other locations, particularly the old ducal Royal Park, the castle of Tervuren, after the death of Charles Alexander of Lorraine. The images in the park have suffered due to war, vandalism, and pollution, resulting in many being replaced by copies. The most valuable original works are housed at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels, while damaged pieces and lesser-quality works are displayed at the Maison du Roi Museum. 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 for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how to participate.