Ringling Museum Bronze Identified as Modern Adaptation of Ancient Grimani Statue

A bronze statue at the Ringling Museum of Art, acquired by John Ringling in the 1920s-30s, has been identified as a modern adaptation of the ancient Roman marble known as the Augusto Grimani. The bronze depicts a Roman general holding orb and scepter, with detailed breastplate decoration featuring winged victories. Research shows it likely copies the Grimani marble that was displayed in Venice for centuries before moving to Germany in the 20th century. The bronze includes deliberate modifications like wolf imagery and SPQR inscriptions to evoke Roman themes, indicating it was created as a modern interpretation rather than exact replica. The statue is currently displayed in the museum's antelobby.