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A colossal left hand from the statue of a major male dvinity or Emperor, pair with Soane M691
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A colossal left hand from the statue of a major male dvinity or Emperor, pair with Soane M691
Roman Empire
Pentelic marble
Length: 13cm
Width (back of hand): 20cm
Width (back of hand): 20cm
Museum number: M689
On display: Colonnade - central aisle
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
This hand and Soane M691 (Vermeule 396), are the left and right hands from the same statue. The left was open and extended, therefore the arm was probably lowered; the right was closed about a round object the thickness of a sceptre-staff or spear, and the angle indicates that it was raised in order that the object might be held vertically. A pose such as this suggests a standing or seated statue of a major male divinity or an Imperial personage, probably an Emperor.
Unrecorded (is one of a pair of hands from the same statue which presumably entered Soane's collection together: see Vermeule 396)
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk