Apollo
by VRIES, Adriaen de, Bronze, height 48 cm
This frontal view of the statuette reflects the inspiration from the famous antique representation of the god, the Apollo Belvedere, but the spiraling composition, resolved into clearly defined views from sides and back moves to the multiple viewpoints favoured by the great representative of the Mannerist style, Giambologna. Creating an elegant pose concerned the sculptor more than depicting realistic action.
Formerly attributed to Giambologna, or Benvenuta Cellini, the statuette was executed by Adriaen de Vries during his stay in Augsburg between 1594 and 1598. A preparatory drawing for the Apollo is in Gdansk. The attribution is based on an engraving by Jan Muller, which identified De Vries as the design’s inventor.