A group of sixteen Egyptian porphyry fragments

Acquired from Daniel Katz Gallery, London.

Egyptian porphyry, a semi-precious stone which has been prized since antiquity for its lustrous colour (the word porphyry derives from the Greek for purple) and incredible durability, was imported by the ancient Romans in enormous quantities from Egypt for use in both architecture and sculpture. The present group of fragments are likely off cuts from ancient Roman columns or carved objects, which were reused and reimagined by 17th and 18th century Roman lapidarists. The rich purple hue of porphyry lent itself to Imperial symbolism, which no doubt played a part in its desirability in ancient Rome and later in the Renaissance period, when it's propagandic potency resonated with powerful figures such as the Medicis, Louis XIV, as well as the cardinals de Richelieu and Mazarin.