A Marble Head of Persephone, Roman Imperial, Hadrianic, circa early 2nd Century A.D.

inspired by a Greek work in late Severe style of circa 460 B.C., over-lifesize, her idealized face with parted lips and almond-shaped eyes, the centrally parted wavy hair bound in a fillet and arranged in an elaborate chignon behind.

Albert B. Ruddock (1886-1970), Santa Barbara, California, acquired prior to 1954
his son Merritt K. Ruddock (1913-1988), Saint Helena, California

"Ancient Art in American Private Collections," Fogg Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., December 28th, 1954 - February 15th, 1955

Ancient Art in American Private Collections. A Loan Exhibition at the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University, exh. cat., Cambridge, Mass., 1954, no. 149, pl. XXXIX
F. Eckstein, "Zwei amerikanische Kataloge," Gnomon, vol. 31, 1959, p. 644
G.M.A. Hanfmann, American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 66, 1962, p. 283
Peter Noelke, “Zu einem Kopf des Museo Barracco in Rom,” Mitteilungen des Deutschen archäologischen Instituts. Roemische Abteilung, vol. 76, 1969, p. 57, pl. 21-1-3
Maria Chiara Monaco, “Dall'Acropoli di Atene al Museo Barracco: nuove considerazioni sulla testa inv. N. 101,” Bullettino della Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma, vol. 99, 1998, p. 102
Claudia Valeri,"Il complesso scultoreo del Rione Terra. Note preliminari," Bollettino d’arte, vol. 118, Oct.-Dec. 2001, p. 36
Claudia Valeri and Fausto Zevi, Marmora Phlegraea: sculture dal Rione Terra di Pozzuoli (Monografie della rivista Archeologia classica, 2), Rome, 2005, note 209, p. 64
E. Borgia, Museo Barracco: arte cipriota, arte greca, VI-IV secolo a.C., Rome, 2008, p. 118

As shown, minor chips and abrasions throughout with loss to nose, lips, and rims of both ears, surface slightly weathered, very small patches of plaster between lower lip and chin and at middle of forehead which appear to be only superficial.
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.

Closely related heads of Persephone are in the Museo Barracco in Rome, inv. no. 85 (Noelke, op. cit., pls. 16 and 18,1, and http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/15639), and in the Agora Museum in Athens, inv. no. S 457 (ibid., pls. 20,1-2). Also related are examples in the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest (inv. no. 4722: ibid., pl. 19) and in the Museo Nazionale/Museo delle Terme in Rome (inv. no. 648, from the Villa Hadriana: ibid., pl. 19, pls. 17 and 18,2-4, and http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/17366). For a recently excavated statue with similar head found at Rione Terra near Naples and now in the Castello Aragonese in Baia see Valeri and Zevi, op. cit., 2005, figs. 31 and 34-37 (identified as Persephone).

For the complex stylistic and chronological issues raised by this group, each with minor differences but all thought to hark back to a Greek original called the “Barracco-Budapest” type, see W. Trillmich, “Bemerkungen zur Erforschung der römischen Idealplastik”, Jahrbuch des Deutschen archäologischen Instituts, vol. 88, 1973, p. 268f.