Unidentified Roman sculptor, Statue of a poet, possibly Menander (Roman copy of lost Greek original)

Statue of a poet, possibly Menander (Roman copy of lost Greek original)

After Unidentified Roman sculptor

RA Collection: Art

This cast is of a Roman version of a Greek bronze dating from the 3rd century B.C. (coll. Vatican Museums, Rome). The bronze was found between 1585-1590 on the Viminal, near S. Lorenzo in Panisperna, along with a statue of the poet Poseidippus (ca. 316- ca. 250 BC).

It is often said that the staute depicts the Greek poet Menander, a prolific writer of the “New Comedy”. Having produced his first comedy Orge in 321 BC he went on to write over a hundred others, the majority of which or either lost or exist as fragments. This cast is depicted in George Scharf's watercolour 'Entrance Hall of the Royal Academy, Somerset House' (1836; coll. British Museum).

Object details

Title

Statue of a poet, possibly Menander (Roman copy of lost Greek original)

Artist/designer

After Unidentified Roman sculptor

From

Vatican Museums, Rome

Object type

Sculpture Cast

Medium

Plaster cast, early 19th century

Dimensions

1620 mm

Collection

Royal Academy of Arts

Object number

03/5004

Acquisition

Given by The Prince Regent 1816

Keywords

Statue Sitting Chair Poet Toga Looking at viewer Ancient Rome Face on Portrait

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