A fine Grand Tour bronze of Narcissus on a circular base of fine griotte marble An excellent cast with high quality finishing and a lovely slightly rubbed patina showing the bleed. One of only a few casts where the eyes have been opened up giving that mysterious look that only these bronzes have. Perhaps the last of the classical bronzes to be found at Pompeii, it was disinterred in 1862. Interestingly, the original is now often thought to represent Dionysus rather than Narcissus, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this already iconic object. Signed G. Sommer Napoli, this finely cast patinated bronze belongs to the celebrated tradition of Neapolitan Grand Tour sculpture. Produced in the workshop of Giorgio Sommer (1834–1914), one of the most important artistic entrepreneurs operating in Naples during the late nineteenth century, the bronze was intended for the wealthy travellers who flocked to Italy to experience the archaeological wonders of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Sommer's foundry became renowned for producing high-quality bronze reductions after celebrated antique sculptures and archaeological discoveries preserved in the Naples Archaeological Museum. Raised on its original green marble socle and bearing the characteristic Napoli signature, the present bronze is a fine example of the sophisticated souvenirs acquired by Grand Tourists during the golden age of travel. Italian circa 1870. 16 inches high by 6 inches diameter ( 40 cm by 15 cm).