Antique Parian Ware Figure Crystal Palace Art Union

Impressive and scarce Parian ware statue of “The Dying Gladiator” by Bates, Brown, Westhead, Moore & Co” for the Crystal Palace Art Union circa 1860. Mentioned by Pail Atterbury in “The Parian Phenomenon” p. 240, fig. 793. This large piece is beautifully modelled and depicts a wounded, slumped Gaulish or Galatian Celt (Gladiator) shown with remarkable realism and pathos, particularly as regards the face. A bleeding sword puncture is visible in his lower right chest. The warrior is represented with characteristic Celtic hairstyle and moustache with a Celtic torc around his neck. He sits on his shield while his sword, belt and curved trumpet lie beside him. The sword hilt bears a lion's head. This Parian ware figure is fairly true to the original, a copy of which can now be found in the Capitoline Museums in Rome. The original Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic period (323-31 Bc) is thought to have originally been made in bronze.