The Lansdowne Hercules

myminifactory

This plaster copy was acquired by a collector in 1897, created from an original antique Roman masterpiece finished in the late classical style of renowned Greek sculptor Lysippos. The marble was unearthed in Hadrian's villa outside Rome in 1790 and subsequently purchased by the 1st Marquis of Lansdowne, who brokered a peace treaty with American rebels during the War of Independence. Now held in American hands, it still proudly bears its 'Lansdowne' name and is showcased for public viewing at The Getty Villa in Malibu, California. The statue was found in fragments when rediscovered, then meticulously restored by Carlo Albacini or possibly another skilled sculptor to conform to the prevailing neoclassical aesthetic. These restorations were later removed in the 1970s, revealing that iron and lead pins holding them in place had caused significant corrosion and swelling over time.