AFTER THE ANTIQUE, NORTH ITALIAN, LATE 15TH OR EARLY 16TH CENTURY

Details

A BRONZE BUST OF THE EMPRESS FAUSTINA
AFTER THE ANTIQUE, NORTH ITALIAN, LATE 15TH OR EARLY 16TH CENTURY
Depicted with her hair tied in a chignon and her head turned slightly to dexter; with a cartouche at the front inscribed 'DIVA FAVSTINA'; inscribed in red on the truncated edge with the inventory number '244' and on a modern rectangular granito rosso pedestal
5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm.) high; 9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) high, overall

Provenance

Purchased by Alfred Beit (1853-1906) by 1904.
Thence by descent to Lady (Clementine) Beit (1915-2005) by whom donated to the Alfred Beit Foundation in 2005.

Literature

W. Bode, The Art Collection of Mr. Alfred Beit at His Residence 26 Park Lane London, Berlin, 1904, as 'School of Riccio'.
W. Bode, Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures and Bronzes in the Possession of Mr. Otto Beit, London, 1913, p. 112, no. 244, as 'Unknown Paduan artist'.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Anna Galeria Faustina was the wife of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, with whom she seems to have lived happily until her death in October or November 140 AD. The title 'Diva Faustina', inscribed across the bottom of the bronze refers to the fact that she was deified shortly thereafter.

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