A very good Grand Tour bronze of Narcissus, after the celebrated Pompeian antique. A superb quality cast, crisply finished throughout, with a rich, slightly rubbed patina revealing warm undertones beneath—an attractive and entirely appropriate surface for a piece of this type and date. Notably, this example belongs to a rarer group of casts in which the eyes have been subtly opened and defined, lending the figure a far more introspective and lifelike expression than is typically encountered. The figure is elegantly poised, his head inclined in quiet contemplation, capturing the essence of the Narcissus myth—the beautiful youth transfixed by his own reflection, a timeless symbol of self-absorption and fleeting beauty. This particular model is widely regarded as one of the most poetic survivals of classical antiquity, its gentle naturalism and inward mood making it especially appealing to 19th-century collectors. The original antique bronze was discovered in 1862 in Pompeii, in a modest domestic setting, and quickly achieved considerable fame as one of the last great antiquities unearthed there. Writing in a publication sponsored by Chiurazzi & Fils, Luigi Conforti, Secretary of the Naples Museum, described it as “the most beautiful bronze ever discovered at Pompeii.” The model was subsequently reproduced by leading Neapolitan foundries for the Grand Tour market, becoming one of the most sought-after classical reductions of the period. Interestingly, the original is now often thought to represent Dionysus rather than Narcissus, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this already iconic object. Raised on its original circular base with finely cast and decorated mouldings. Circa 1880 Height: 38 cm, by 16.4cm Wide and 16.4cm Deep