A Marble Relief with Dancing Maenads, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D.

from the same quadrangular basin as the following lot, facing each other, each playing the tympanon, and holding a thyrsos.

Cardinal Camillo Massimo (1620-1677), Palazzo [Nerli] alle Quattro Fontane (later P. Albani), Rome
Cardinal Alessandro Albani (1682-1779), Palazzo Albani (later P. Albani del Drago), Rome, 1719
Prince Filippo del Drago (1824-1913), Palazzo Albani del Drago, Rome, 1858
Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, November 22nd, 1961, no. 949
Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, October 14th, 1999, no. 1310 (part)

Giorgio Zoega, Li bassirelievi antichi di Roma, vol. I, Rome, 1808, pl. V (engraving)
Friedrich Matz and F. von Dühn, Antike Bildwerke in Rom, vol. III, Leipzig, 1882, no. 3501
Friedrich Hauser, Die neuattischen Reliefs, Stuttgart, 1889, p. 92
Giulia Fusconi, "Un taccuino di disegni di Raymond Lafage e il Palazzo alle Quattro Fontane di Roma," in Camillo Massimo, collezionista di antichità. Fonti e materiali (Xenia Antiqua. Monografie, 3), p. 87, no. F.69, pl. LXX (1679 drawing by Raymond Lafage)
Massimo Pomponi, "La collezione del Cardinal Massimo e l'inventario del 1677," ibidem, p. 97, no. 34, and p. 98, figs. 22 and 40 (plaster cast in situ)

Appears to be from a four-sided basin rather than a base as stated in the catalogue. Repaired from one large fragment and three smaller fragments, the breaks visible in the photograph. A hole in the upper right corner now plugged with marble, plaster fill around the perimeter, and painted over. Top of thrysus of maenad at right missing as shown. A mortis on top of rim for attachment of metal element. Upper molding probably chiseled off in 17th century.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present relief and the following were once part of a square base, of which the two other sides are now unaccounted for. These missing sides represent the same pairs of dancing figures as lots 30-31, but the maenads turn their backs to each other while the satyrs face each other. At the Palazzo Albani del Drago, in the main gallery of the piano nobile, each one of these four reliefs was inserted high into a medallion within a lunette above a tall niche recessed for statuary display. The reliefs were removed in the early part of the 20th century and replaced with plaster casts.