Detail of the Marble Statue of Hermes in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, July 2007

Marble statue of Hermes
Roman, Imperial Period, 1st or 2nd century AD
Copy or adaptation of a Greek statue of the late 5th or early 4th century BC
The left hand, tip of the nose, and tips of some fingers on the right hand are restored.

Accession # 56.234.15

The statue is almost intact, although the surface was strongly cleaned as was the custom in the 18th century. During that period, newly excavated ancient sculpture was cleaned and restored in workshops before being sold to members of the European nobility. This work was acquired by the English statesman William Fitzmaurice.

Text exerpted from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.