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Attributed to Balthasar Permoser — Hercules and Omphale
Attributed to Balthasar Permoser

Hercules and Omphale

1680

This marble relief depicts two reclining figures in dynamic composition, carved in white stone with precise anatomical detail and flowing drapery. The figure on the left reclines horizontally while the figure on the right, positioned above, gestures expressively while holding what appears to be architectural elements or objects. The work demonstrates masterful handling of marble carving technique, with carefully modulated surface textures differentiating flesh, fabric, and ornamental details. Rich baroque spatial complexity emerges through overlapping forms and the interplay of negative and positive space, characteristic of late 17th century European sculptural practice.

Medium
White marble
Dimensions
Location
David Zwirner 69th Street, New York, NY

Notes

From the exhibition 'Set in Stone' at David Zwirner 69th Street, NYC, May 12 to June 26, 2026, in collaboration with Galerie Kugel, Paris. Tombstone date: Florence, c. 1680-1690. Exhibition Only (not for sale at this show).

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About this work

Attributed to Balthasar Permoser, Hercules and Omphale, 1680

This marble relief depicts two reclining figures in dynamic composition, carved in white stone with precise anatomical detail and flowing drapery. The figure on the left reclines horizontally while the figure on the right, positioned above, gestures expressively while holding what appears to be architectural elements or objects. The work demonstrates masterful handling of marble carving technique, with carefully modulated surface textures differentiating flesh, fabric, and ornamental details. Rich baroque spatial complexity emerges through overlapping forms and the interplay of negative and positive space, characteristic of late 17th century European sculptural practice.

Medium
White marble
Dimensions
61 x 91.4 x 48.3 cm
Year
1680
Seen at
Adler Beatty, New York, NY

Related themes

Mythological Narrative, Figurative Sculpture, European Marble, Stone Carving, Florentine Period, Museum Collection, Dynamic Pose, Relief Carving, Historical Hardstone, Baroque Sculpture, Allegorical Figures, Decorative Arts, Italian Influence, White Marble, Neoclassical Subject, Ornamental Relief, Classical Composition, Sculptural Detail, Flowing Drapery, Seventeenth Century