- 46
A Roman Marble Portrait Head of a Lady, late 2nd Century A.D., on circa 18th-Century Marble Shoulders
Estimate
50,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description
- A Roman Marble Portrait Head of a Lady
- marble
- Total height 63 cm; height of head 30 cm.
her youthful-looking face with parted bow-shaped lips and wide-set eyes with incised irises and dotted pupils, the elaborate and carefully arranged coiffure rising high above the forehead in two tiers of deeply drilled wavy curls, surmounted by a diadem, and pulled back in long tapering braids to a small chignon at the nape of the neck, voluted curls escaping in front of the ears; nose and plait below chignon formerly restored.
Provenance
European private collection, circa 18th Century (based on the restoration techniques)
Private collection, southern France
French private collection, acquired in the 1980s at the Hôtel Drouot, Paris (Hôtel des Ventes Victor Hugo, Dijon, June 13th, 2015, no. 41, mounted on an 18th Century bust and with restored braid in back)
acquired by the current owner at the above sale
Private collection, southern France
French private collection, acquired in the 1980s at the Hôtel Drouot, Paris (Hôtel des Ventes Victor Hugo, Dijon, June 13th, 2015, no. 41, mounted on an 18th Century bust and with restored braid in back)
acquired by the current owner at the above sale
Literature
Galerie Chenel, Paris, Aesthetica, 2016, pp. 46-47
Condition
As shown. Nose and plait below chignon restored, now missing. Lips chipped. Both ends of eyebrows abraded. Various nicks and incrustations throughout. Surface slightly weathered.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The dating of this portrait is challenging: while the small "bridges" in the hair (signs of drilling) point to the late 2nd cent. A.D., the coiffure was en vogue at the time of emperor Trajan (reigned A.D. 97–117). For the combination of a "Flammen"-Toupet (for the term see K. Fittschen, Études et Travaux, vol. 25, 2012, p. 109) with plaits gathered at the nape of the neck cf. a portrait in Heraklion: M. Lagogianni-Georgakarakos, Die römischen Porträts Kretas (Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani. Greece, vol. VI.1), 2002, p. 77f., no. 47, pl. 52.