Something is afoot in Naples

This morning I headed for the National Archeological Museum of Naples, with the express purpose of seeing the splendid Meridian Room. Wouldn’t you just know it, the room was closed to the public, as they prepared it for a special display. I don’t look very glamorous when I cry!

Here’s what I should have seen, courtesy of an online image.

I wandered around for a while, admiring the many excellent sculptures on display. Then, for some reason, I began to study the feet of the statues. The artists must have had such a variety of models, every foot revealed some difference in their appearance. Compare these two examples. Their toes, and also the footwear are so detailed and make the statues more human somehow. (They both must have had good manicurists.)

This was Hermes, the winged messenger. His little toe looks somewhat deformed.

Here are a few more, including a couple from different branches of the animal world.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

If you were a sculptor, how would you present these modern day examples?

In response to a request for you, turtlefoodandbeyond. She hasn’t moved much since you last saw her.

And, for you Jane, a stemma.