A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF THE EMPEROR HADRIAN
THE PROPERTY OF A TEXAS PRIVATE COLLECTOR
A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF THE EMPEROR HADRIAN

REIGN 117-138 A.D.

Details
A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF THE EMPEROR HADRIAN
REIGN 117-138 A.D.
Over-lifesized, depicted with his characteristic wavy locks combed forward, the luscious individual curls framing his face, crowned with a wreath of laurel and berries, his closely-cropped beard composed of undulating locks, his mustache enveloping his upper lip, his mouth slightly open, his oval face with deeply-set wide eyes with heavy lids, beneath gently-arching brows, his preserved left ear with a distinct crease through the lobe, the back of the head cut off
13 in. (33 cm.) high
Provenance
Petros Nascu (1900-1945), Moldova, thence by descent to Vasilis Nascu, Moldova, 1945-1985; thence by descent to the current owner.

Brought to you by

G. Max Bernheimer
G. Max Bernheimer

Lot Essay

As K. de Kersauson explains (p. 120 in Catalogue des portraits romains, Tome II), laurel wreaths are frequent accessories on Imperial portraits from the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, as seen on a portrait head of Hadrian now at the Louvre, no. 49, op. cit.

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