Boy with Thorn Bronze Sculpture
2024 © Maxim Tabachnik
Battle of Lake Regillus FrescoFasti Consulares and Triumphales FragmentsMucius Scaevola Before PorsennaAncient Greek Skyphos with YouthBust of Commodus as HerculesBoy with Thorn Bronze SculptureYouth Between Two Sirens AmphoraHoratius Cocles Defending the BridgeThe Combat of the Horatii and Curiatii

Boy with Thorn Bronze Sculpture

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This bronze sculpture, ’Boy with Thorn’ or ’Spinario’ (1st c. BC), is a Roman copy of a Greek Hellenistic original. It depicts a nude boy extracting a thorn from his foot, possibly representing Ascanius, son of Aeneas, or a young grape harvester. The piece gained popularity during the Renaissance, influencing many artists. Its rarity lies in being a bronze, as most ancient sculptures are marble copies.