Index, p.450.non-fictionYou should know that men like Benvenuto, unique in their profession, need not be subject to the law.'" "Thus spoke Pope Paul III on learning that Cellini had murdered a fellow artist, so great was Cellini's reputation in Renaissance Italy. A renowned sculptor and goldsmith, whose works include the famous salt-cellar made for the King of France, and the statue of Perseus with the head of the Medusa, Cellini's life was as vivid and enthralling as his creations. A man of action as well as an artist, he took part in the Sack of Rome in 1527; he was temperamental, passionate, and conceited, capable of committing criminal acts ranging from brawling and sodomy to theft and murder. He numbered among his patrons popes and kings and members of the Medici family, and his autobiography is a fascinating account of sixteenth-century Italy and France written with all the verve of a novelart - italy - history, artists - florence - biography

This ‘heroic size’ reclining figure is a copy made from one of The Parthenon Sculptures currently housed at The British Museum, and thought to represent the river-god Ilissos. This piece was part of the Ballarat Technical Art School's collection of reference for art studies, and became affectionately known as 'Hercules' by subsequent student cohorts. The cast was likely made by Brucciani and Co. London, and part of a consignment delivered to the School during the 1920s. This cast replicates one of a number of relics acquired by Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin and ambassador to Turkey, (Lord Elgin) in Athens in the early 19th century. (Hence, these works were sometimes collectively referred to as the Elgin Marbles). Ownership of the artefacts, once part of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple, is disputed by Greece. It maintains that Elgin removed them illegally while the country was under Turkish occupation as part of the Ottoman Empire. The items were sold to the British Museum in 1816 and have remained there ever since. The original "Ilissos" was located on the west pediment of the Parthenon in Greece, and was created in c435 BC. It is unknown if the statue was in position or had already fallen when removed from the Parthenon by Elgin. The Royal Academy London also holds a copy of this plaster cast. The Ballarat Technical Art School boasted a well-stocked Antique Room replete with plaster copies of classical, Renaissance and Gothic sculptural examples, which were used as drawing props by students. The school inherited some casts from its predecessor institutions, and further consignments were purchased during the 1920s, including full length, bust and relief figures, as well as dozens of ornamental and architectural casts. Unfortunately, much of the collection was lost or destroyed in the late 1950s.Quality examples of heroic sized plaster replicas are now rare, as many plaster collections were destroyed or lost when the copy of antique examples fell out of favour with art schools.Plaster cast used during Drawing classes at the Ballarat Technical Arts School. It is likely a headless depiction of the river god Ilissos.hercules, ballarat technical art school, elgin marbles, plaster, plaster cast, figure of a river god, parthenon marbles, ilissos, copy, drawing the human figure from cast, drawing from the antique, visual arts