Two Fragmentary Roman Marble Figures of the Dogs of Actaeon, circa 2nd Century A.D.

from a group statue showing the young hunter turning into a stag, and balking in horror at the attack of his hounds, the lean starved animals with prominent ribs, one rearing up with his paws on Actaeon's thigh, the other crouching with his head craned up and ripping the flesh off his master's calf; no restorations.

said to have been found in Taranto in 1898 (see http://milles-konstdatabas.millesgarden.se/antiken_print.asp?id=24d)
Ugo Jandolo, Rome, in or prior to 1939 (see Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome, Photothek, 1939 Logbook, annotation to entry for Inst. Neg. 39.1042)
European private collection (Christie's South Kensington, London, 2008, no. 162, illus., as "one probably a kid," the other a "leonine animal")
Galerie Chenel, Paris

DOCUMENTED
negatives of Actaeon's figure together with the present dogs in place: Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome, Inst. Neg. 39.1042, 34.2047 (renumbered as 57.631), and 34.2048 (renumbered as 57.632): http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilderbestand/821656, http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilderbestand/821657, http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilderbestand/821658)
The Piero Tozzi Archive, Onassis Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, File K.4, Folder 2, contains undated prints showing the front and back of the figure, including the two dogs, as well as a front view showing only the crouching dog in place.

PUBLISHED
Arvid Andrén, "Greek and Roman Marbles in the Carl Milles Collection,” Opuscula Romana, vol. 5, 1965, p. 100f., fig. 11
Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, vol. 1, p. 458, no. 37
Henning Wrede, "Statuetten des Aktaion," Boreas, vol. 14/15, 1991/92, pp. 131ff., pl. 3f.

As shown, proper left foreleg of crouching dog repaired
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The figure of Actaeon to which the present dogs belong is now in the Millesgården Collection, Stockholm (A. Andrén, Millesgården. A Guide to the Collection of Ancient Sculpture, 1952, p. 14, no. 41). Swedish sculptor Carl Milles (1875-1955) acquired the figure without the dogs, probably from Ugo Jandolo. Scholarly literature about the Millesgården statue refers to the dogs as "lost". It is unclear why the dogs were separated from the figure. A reversed version of this statue is in the British Museum (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=459786&partId=1). The head, which appears to belong to the body, shows Actaeon growing antlers over his forehead. Both statues are probably based on a late Hellenistic original.