1536
The Herms
Agostino VenezianoItalian, 1490 - 1540
Herms, sculpted figures composed of a human head and shoulder, or head and torso above a plain shaft, derive their name from Hermes, the ancient Greek god of fertility and a harbinger of luck. In antiquity, herms served as wayside shrines. Unlike their Ancient Greek counterparts, these Renaissance herms are clothed and have inventive bases either made of wood or covered with a scalelike material.
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