Lot 35
Rome, Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE. A skillfully carved, fine-crystalline white marble head depicting an ideal beauty of the classical world - probably Venus (Greek Aphrodite), the goddess of romantic love - her attractive coiffure parted at the center and swept back along the contours where her diadem would have been placed, the long, wavy locks meticulously delineated and arranged in a chignon at the nape of her neck. The goddess' elegant, oval face is sensitively modeled so as to present a naturalistic visage characteristic with a rounded forehead, large and generously lidded almond-shaped eyes, a fine browline that arches gracefully and merges with the bridge of her nose (now missing). Size: 4.75" H (12.1 cm); 8.625" H (21.9 cm) on included custom stand.
A breathtaking sculptural representation of the goddess whose sublime beauty legendarily inspired much rivalry among the gods, not to mention countless depictions throughout art history, among the most famous, the Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" (1484-86), Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens' "Judgement of Paris" (ca. 1636), and of course, Attic sculptor Praxitele's "Aphrodite of Knidos" (ca. 360-330 BCE) and the equally famous "Lely's Venus" (ca. 100 to 199 CE).
While difficult to find a perfectly comparable example, an example of a very similar form though larger and in pristine condition, sold at Christie's New York on October 25, 2016 (Sale 12257, lot 96) for $87,500. (http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-roman-marble-head-of-venus-circa-6029331-details.aspx)
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Bavarian collection R.B., acquired in the 1960s or 1970s
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#130857
- Condition: A section with losses to the face and coiffure as shown. Normal surface wear with abraded areas, though other areas of surface are finely polished.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $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 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |