Apollo Belvedere

Apollo turns his head away from the arm extending out to the side. The pose represents the god after shooting an arrow. You can follow the action through his stance even though the ancient bronze that inspired this marble has not survived here. This is a Roman statue made in the early second century AD after a Greek bronze of the late fourth century BC, probably by the sculptor Leochares. Found on Rome's Viminal Hill in 1489, it belonged to Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere before he became Pope Julius II. It is documented at the Belvedere from 1508. The body also has a history of repairs. The sculptor Montorsoli restored parts in 1532–1533. Structural problems led to further conservation after 2019, including a support behind the figure and a replacement for a previously restored left hand, based on an ancient hand found at Baia. An older photograph can therefore differ from the conserved statue. The Apollo Belvedere you encounter carries ancient carving and later decisions about how a damaged figure should stand.