Peace

myminifactory

This relief portrays a Greco-Roman deity, Hermes or Mercury, the messenger, who proudly proclaims peace after conflict. As he sings, he skillfully plays the lyre, an instrument he cleverly invented. His iconic attribute, a tortoise or turtle shell, is incorporated into this masterpiece and serves as a timeless symbol of stability. The laurel wreath adorning Hermes' head signifies his triumph, likely bestowed upon him by the accompanying figure, who embodies victory. Harrison Bates (1850-99) was a skilled stone carver and architectural decorator before enrolling in the prestigious Royal Academy Schools. In 1883 he secured a coveted traveling scholarship to Paris where he encountered Rodin, whose innovative methods of conveying physical and emotional energy profoundly influenced him.