Antinous-Dionysus (Hermitage)

The Bust of Antinous-Dionysus in the Hermitage is an ancient Roman colossal marble sculptural portrait of the favorite and beloved Roman emperor Hadrian Antinous. He is depicted as the god Dionysus with a bronze vine wreath on his head. The bust is believed to have been found at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli. It was in the collection of the Marquis Giampietro Campana and was known as one of his finest sculptures. After the ruin of the marquis, the bust of Antinous-Dionysus was acquired in 1861 by Emperor Alexander II of Russia for the Hermitage.[1]

Bust of Antinous-Dionysus
Year2st century AD.
MediumMarble sculpture
Dimensions84 cm (33 in)
LocationHermitage, Saint Petersburg

During the Soviet years, when homosexuality was considered a criminal offense, the underground community of Leningrad gays had a peculiar “custom” of taking oaths of allegiance and playing impromptu weddings in front of this statue.[2]

References
  1. Henry d'Escamps. (1862). "Antinoüs". Description des marbres antiques du musée Campana à Rome. Goupy et Cie. imprimerie de W. Remquet. pp. XXX, XXXIV, LIX–LX, NP, 90.
  2. Pyotr Voskresenskiy (2022-11-18). "Colossal bust of Antinous-Dionysus / Queer Catalog of the Hermitage". Queerfest. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
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