the objects
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Mercury
Ferdinand Barbedienne (French, 1810-1892)
1993.86
This small bronze cast is of the Roman god, Mercury (also known by the ancient Greeks as Hermes), after an original work by the Renaissance sculptor Giovanni da Bologna (1529-1608). In the mid-19th century, Mercury’s caduceus—his staff with two intertwined serpents—became a symbol of medical practice, and its presence at the Gibson House might be a reference to the many prominent doctors on the Warren side of the family. The choice to display this classical figure in the family library also projects a sense of education and cultural wealth.
Ferdinand Barbedienne (French, 1810-1892)
1993.86
This small bronze cast is of the Roman god, Mercury (also known by the ancient Greeks as Hermes), after an original work by the Renaissance sculptor Giovanni da Bologna (1529-1608). In the mid-19th century, Mercury’s caduceus—his staff with two intertwined serpents—became a symbol of medical practice, and its presence at the Gibson House might be a reference to the many prominent doctors on the Warren side of the family. The choice to display this classical figure in the family library also projects a sense of education and cultural wealth.