CIRCA 235-250 A.D.

Details

A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF A BEARDED MAN
CIRCA 235-250 A.D.
With closely-cropped hair, a short beard and mustache, the forehead creased, the deep-set eyes beneath modelled brows, the lids naturalistically sculpted, with deep inner canthi and heavy upper lids, the pupils and irises articulated, glancing up and slightly to his right, the bridge of his nose with a slight bulge, the mouth small, his ears prominent
10 in. (25.4 cm.) high

Provenance

Swiss Private Collection, prior to 1982.
with Summa Galleries, Beverly Hills, mid 1980s.

Literature

H. Jucker and D. Willers, Gesichter, Griechische und römische Bildnisse aus Schweizer Besitz, Bern, 1982, no. 82.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

The style of the hair and beard, and the treatment of the eyes, point clearly to the early to mid 3rd century A.D. Compare for example the portrait of the Emperor Balbinus from his sarcophagus lid in the Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, of circa 238 A.D., p. 356 in Kleiner, Roman Sculpture.

More from Antiquities

View All