A 19th century French bronze bust of the Greek hero Menelaus (or Ajax), after th

Height (from base of socle):  7 in. (17 cm.)
Width (at widest point): 3 1/4 in. (8 cm.)
Depth (at deepest point): 3 in. (7.7 cm.)


In Greek mythology, Menelaus was husband of the famous Helen of Troy and a King of Sparta. According to the Iliad, Menelaus was a hero of the Trojan War and the leader of the Greek army, under his elder brother Agamemnon, king of Mycenae.

According to legend, in return for awarding her a golden apple inscribed ‘to the fairest,’ Aphrodite promised the Trojan prince Paris the most beautiful woman in all the world. After concluding a diplomatic mission to Sparta, Paris fled back to Troy with the Queen of Sparta, Helen. Menelaus, Helen’s husband, and his brother Agamemnon raised a fleet of a thousand ships and went tocharlie Troy to secure Helen's return; the Trojans refused to comply and so began the Trojan War.

After hiding within the famed Trojan horse and breeching the city’s walls, Menelaus sought out Helen in the conquered city. She had eloped with Paris in Troy and, after his death during the war, married his brother Deiphobus. On regaining his wife, and raging at her infidelity, Menelaus raised his sword to kill her, but as he saw her weeping at his feet, begging for her life, Menelaus' wrath instantly left him. He took pity on her and decided to take her back as his wife.

Though historically thought to represent the Greek General Ajax, who fought under Menelaus at Troy, the design of this bust originates from a large ancient figural group depicting Menelaus supporting the body of Patroclus, now known through a Roman copy now in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Menelaus_supporting_the_body_of_Patroclus-Loggia_dei_Lanzi.jpg 

Looking dramatically to his dexter, he wears a helmet cast with satyrs and eagles, his toga is tied at his left shoulder and a sash to his right. The bust is raised on a square based socle. This is a very striking object, with imagery familiar to many; its impact defies its relatively small scale, I think it would grace any desktop!

This bronze survives in very nice condition with lightly worn areas of patination, gained from light handling over the years. It has been re-glued to its base at some stage, see images for slight seepage. The bronze is quite weighty for its size.

Price includes shipping within Europe, reasonable offers always seriously considered.