Lot Essay
PUBLISHED:
K.A. Neugebauer, (ed.), Antike Kunst in Deutschem Privatbesitz, Berlin, 1938, p. 12, pl. 8, no. 13
E. Bielefeld, Ancient Sculpture, vol. VI, Deutsche Archaologische Institut, 1967, pp. 41-47, pls. 23-27
P. Zanker, Klassizistische Statuen, Mainz am Rhein, 1974, pp. 107-108
B. Vierneisel-Schlorb, Klassische Skulpturen des 5. und 4. Jahrhunderts v. Chr., Munich, 1979
Neugebaur writes that this head of Apollo is the finest example of its type, which was formerly referred to as the "Adonis of the Vatican", showing Apollo on the threshold of manhood. The meticulous, fine carving of the outlines around lips and eyes recalls the work on the bronze original. Neugebaur suggests that the original would have been the work of a successor of Polycleitus, of the first half of the 4th Century B.C. and that this Roman copy might be Hadrianic.
The head was offered in Christie's, London, Fine Antiquities, 10 July 1991, but was withdrawn prior to the sale due to its inclusion on an East German cultural interest list. However, the German government has now released the head from this list and Christie's are pleased to reoffer it for sale
K.A. Neugebauer, (ed.), Antike Kunst in Deutschem Privatbesitz, Berlin, 1938, p. 12, pl. 8, no. 13
E. Bielefeld, Ancient Sculpture, vol. VI, Deutsche Archaologische Institut, 1967, pp. 41-47, pls. 23-27
P. Zanker, Klassizistische Statuen, Mainz am Rhein, 1974, pp. 107-108
B. Vierneisel-Schlorb, Klassische Skulpturen des 5. und 4. Jahrhunderts v. Chr., Munich, 1979
Neugebaur writes that this head of Apollo is the finest example of its type, which was formerly referred to as the "Adonis of the Vatican", showing Apollo on the threshold of manhood. The meticulous, fine carving of the outlines around lips and eyes recalls the work on the bronze original. Neugebaur suggests that the original would have been the work of a successor of Polycleitus, of the first half of the 4th Century B.C. and that this Roman copy might be Hadrianic.
The head was offered in Christie's, London, Fine Antiquities, 10 July 1991, but was withdrawn prior to the sale due to its inclusion on an East German cultural interest list. However, the German government has now released the head from this list and Christie's are pleased to reoffer it for sale