Sculpture, statue

Male torso, probably of the Romano-Greek hero Hercules with lion's head.

Head, right arm and legs are entirely missing from this statue, as well as any background associated with these sections. The front of the groin, upper leg area is also missing, and the entire surface is weathered. The male figure is carved almost in the round but supported by his background and appears to lean on a knotted staff to his left. The left shoulder is covered by drapery which loops over the arm at the elbow. The musculature of the chest and stomach was once well defined, but is now a little weathered.

Though it is similar to examples of Mercury statues from London, this is probably from a statue of Hercules. The knotted staff could be the club, while the drapery could form a lion’s head over the shoulder.