Description:

Rome, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A carved marble human knee with sections of the leg's contiguous thigh and calf, likely from a full sized sculpture, presenting an incredibly veristic representation of the flexed knee. The bent form suggests that the figure stood in contrapposto and was supported by the other leg, while the leg that this knee belonged to probably barely touched the ground with the tip of its toe - suggesting an unstatic, dynamic weight-shift of the body. Though a fragment, this piece represents the Classical artists' approach to depicting realistic human anatomy. Custom stand. Size: 4.25" W x 9.5" H (10.8 cm x 24.1 cm); 13.125" H (33.3 cm) on stand

It is also possible that this piece belonged to a sculpture created via the acrolith technique in which the sculptor focussed his attention solely on the unclothed parts of the figure which were made from a more valuable material than the rest of the piece. The legendary Phidias's Zeus of Olympia and the Parthenon's Athena are quintessential examples of this.

Provenance: Ex-private Mazard Family Collection, NYC acquired in the 1980s

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#120576

  • Condition: A fragment from a lifesize statue. Restored from 2 to 4 pieces with some visible break lines and abraded areas of loss.

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March 15, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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