Antinous Belvedere 1560 - 1970

This bronze sculpture of Antinous Belvedere was made by Willem Danielsz van Tetrode, likely in the late 16th century. Tetrode was a Dutch sculptor working in Florence, and he was deeply influenced by Michelangelo and classical antiquity. Antinous was the Greek lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. After Antinous died in Egypt, Hadrian deified him, leading to a surge in sculptures and portraits of Antinous throughout the Roman Empire. Tetrode's sculpture participates in this history of representing queer desire. By reviving a classical subject during the Renaissance, Tetrode’s sculpture speaks to the enduring presence and, at times, the deification of queer relationships throughout history. Consider the tactile quality of the bronze and how Tetrode captures both the physical beauty and the melancholic aura of Antinous. This work invites us to reflect on how societies have historically navigated, celebrated, or suppressed queer identities.