Pair of Patinated Bronze Figures of Mercury and Fortuna, 19th Century French

An exquisite pair of patinated bronze sculptures, after Giambologna, depicting Mercury and Fortuna beautifully hand caste in fine detail and monumental in scale. Mercury is depicted in a dynamic and graceful pose while mid-flight and shown with his signature winged helmet (petasos) and staff entwined with serpents (the caduceus). Mercury is miraculously lifted into the air by the gentle puff of air from the cherub beneath his feet. Fortuna is portrayed in a similarly dynamic pose with flowing hair and light sash curving around her frame emphasizing the unpredictable nature of fortune. Fortuna rises on top of an ethereal hand-caste cloud. The bases of both sculptures are adorned with intricate relief castings depicting classical scenes with motifs that celebrate the divine nature of Mercury and Fortuna.