Image scanned from slide. Color corrected by Pat Cagney.

Andiron with Herm Figure of Diana

Artist Girolamo Campagna (Italian, 1549-ca. 1625)

CultureItalian

Dateca. 1600

MediumBronze

DimensionsOverall: 60 in. (152.4 cm)

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

Object number71.2612

On View

On view

DescriptionThis is a bronze standing figure (andiron) of Diana. Her upper torso is bare except for a small strap over her shoulders. Her hair is curly and thick and she has tresses going down her back. Her right hand is on her chest, her left holds the drapery over her lower body. The fabric is knotted at the center. Instead of legs, there is a square, fluted column. The base supporting the statue has a coat of arms on all four sides of the square: it is shaped like a circle with the left half as animal. The right half is divided into two pictures: the top seems to be an eagle or hawk, and the bottom depicts a castle.

Label TextGirolamo Campagna Italian, 1549–ca. 1625 Andiron with Herm Figure of Apollo, ca. 1600 Bronze far right Andiron with Herm Figure of Diana, ca. 1600 Bronze Depicting the ancient gods Apollo (here) and Diana (to the right), these bronze andirons, or firedogs, once adorned a colossal fireplace in a grand Italian palace. The sun god Apollo holds a fiery ray of light, while the moon goddess Diana gathers her gown in her hand. Inspired by antique sculpture, the artist presents the two as herms—half-length figures set atop quadrangular posts that decorated classical Roman villas. As symbols of day and night, the pair evoke the daily alteration of light and dark—a theme likely enhanced by the firelight that once flickered behind them. Gifts of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.2611–.2612