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Apollo Barberini

Apollo Barberini is a Roman sculpture now conserved in the Glyptothek in Munich. It comes from the Barberini collection, like the Barberini Faun and the Portland Vase. The work is identified as the cult statue of the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine in Rome. It is probably a copy of the Apollo Citharoedus by Scopas, from the temple of Apollo at Rhamnous.

Apollo Barberini marble statue standing in a flowing robe and holding a lyre
Apollo Barberini, a marble statue of the god Apollo holding a lyre.
· Public domain
Apollo Barberini statue standing on a plinth in the Glyptothek museum, holding part of a lyre-like object
Apollo Barberini displayed in the Glyptothek museum, shown here as a draped stone statue on a plinth.
October 2021 © · CC0
Apollo Barberini, a light-colored stone statue of a standing figure holding a lyre-like instrument and a small object.
Apollo Barberini, shown as a standing stone statue with elaborate hair, drapery, and a lyre-like instrument.
1911 © Adolf Furtwängler (1853-1907), Heinrich Ludwig Urlichs (1864-1935) · Public domain
Apollo Barberini marble statue holding a large lyre, displayed against a golden panel on a brick wall.
Apollo Barberini shown as a full-length marble statue with a lyre, displayed indoors against a framed golden panel.
March 2012 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Apollo Barberini marble bust with curly hair and draped shoulders against a golden background.
Apollo Barberini shown as a marble bust with detailed curls and a draped garment.
June 2007 © · CC BY 2.0

Identification

TitleApollo Barberini
SubjectApollo citharoedus
Inventory numberInv. 211
TypeRoman sculpture

Historical context

Date1st or 2nd century; probably Augustan age
Function in antiquityCult statue of Apollo Citharoedus in the Temple of Apollo Palatinus in Rome

Creator

Possible model artistScopas
Stylistic attribution of originalSchool of Phidias

Discovery and provenance

Associated works from same collectionBarberini Faun; Portland Vase
Transfer historyTransferred after the dispersal of the Barberini Collection in the 19th century
Later display locationPalazzo Barberini, Rome
Discovery contextFound during modern-era excavations
Original provenance of possible prototypePossibly from the sanctuary of Apollo in Rhamnous, Attica
Discovery locationTivoli
Named afterThe Barberini family, who owned it
ProvenanceFrom the Barberini collection

Location and ownership

Current locationGlyptothek, Munich
Current statusStill located there

Physical characteristics

EyelashesCopper, now lost
Right armLost; formerly restored, but the restoration is no longer present
HairThick, elaborate hair with long curls descending to the chest
Head and neckSeparate marble piece fitted into the body
PoseAdvances toward the viewer with a slow, formal step, resting on the right leg
EyesWhite stone eyes with dark-stone irises, the irises no longer surviving
BeltWide belt at the waist, partly covered by the folded-back veil
ClothingLong veil falling in numerous folds to the ground
Left-hand attributeLarge lyre
Depicted figureA deity

Materials

Body materialMarble
Eyes materialWhite stone; dark stone irises now lost
Eyelashes materialCopper, now lost
Head and neck materialMarble

Iconography and meaning

Actual iconographic subjectApollo citharoedus (Apollo with the long tunic of the Pythians)
Possible modelProbably a copy of Scopas's Apollo Citharoedus
Possible prototypeMay be a copy of the Apollo Palatinus by Scopas
Original workA copy of an older Greek statue
Winckelmann's interpretationHe described the statue as female and identified it with the inspiring muse of Ageladas, the master of Phidias and Polyclitus
Meaning of the tunicA garment worn by singers and musicians competing for prizes during the festival in honor of Apollo
Late Greek depiction of ApolloApollo the musician was regularly shown wearing this long robe, unlike the nude Apollo with the bow