Highlights from our offering of sculpture across the millennia, selected by our specialists. 
 
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Auction Highlights

In this sale, the power of representing significant individuals shines through the millennia. The ancient portraits cover a range of antique styles from idealism to verism. Amongst the 16th- and 17th-century busts, the Alexander the Great and Emperor Tiberius speak to a revived interest in classical imagery. The relief portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V is an iconic representation of a ruler whose motto was Plus Ultra, Further Beyond. 
 
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Portraiture Across the Millennia

Sculpture has been a favoured mode to create religious and mythological imagery throughout history. For example, the god Dionysos, or Bacchus, has been a popular subject for sculpture in western tradition. He is represented in this sale by an over-lifesize head, a sensitively carved semi-draped torso from antiquity, as well as a bronze after Louis Garnier from the 17th century. The French bronze retains the sensuality and decedent feeling of the Roman marble precedents, with elegant contrapposto and long oiled tresses falling over the shoulders. 
 
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Mythology and the Divine

London

Senior Director, Head of Department, Worldwide

Dr Florent Heintz

Senior Director, Head of Department, European Sculpture & Works of Art

Christopher Mason

AVP, Specialist, Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art

Alexandra Olsman

Deputy Director, Specialist, European Sculpture & Works of Art

Elisabeth Banfield

Associate Specialist, European Sculpture & Works of Art

Elena Nies

Associate Cataloguer, Ancient Sculpture & Works of Art

Finn Hardwick

Senior Vice President, Worldwide Head of Department, Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art

Margaret H Schwartz

Francesco Morroni

Director, Head of Department, European Sculpture & Works of Art

International Consultant, European Sculpture & Works of Art

Alexander Kader

International Senior Director, Senior Vice President, Ancient Sculpture & Works of Art

Richard M Keresey

International Consultant , Pre-Columbian Art, Arts of Africa, Oceania and Arts of the Americas

Stacy Goodman

Fatma Wille

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +44 207 293 5000 
 
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Sotheby’s Ancient and European Sculpture departments are delighted to present a curated live auction, Master Sculpture from Four Millennia. Comprising a select group of the finest sculptures on the market ranging in date from antiquity to the 19th century, the sale showcases three dimensional works in variety of media. The diversity of material, technique and subject matter creates new dialogues between objects not normally presented together. The auction provides a selected panorama of the history of Europe and the Mediterranean World.

Master Sculpture from Four Millennia