AFTER THE ANTIQUE, WORKSHOP OF BARTOLOMEO CAVACEPPI (1719-1799), SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus - more commonly known simply as Commodus, was the son of Marcus Aurelius and the last member of the Antonine dynasty of Roman emperors. He assumed the imperial throne at the age of eighteen on the death of his father and quickly developed a reputation for megalomania and sexual depravity. He re-founded Rome and called it 'Colonia Commodiana', and had the months re-named after his various titles. After several attempts on his life, Commodus was finally strangled during a coup which was organised by members of the Praetorian Guard, the imperial household, and his favourite concubine. Despite his reputation, Commodus was often re-created in the 18th century for members of the European aristocracy who visited Italy on the Grand Tour. The present bust, with the deep undercutting of the folds of drapery and careful carving of the hair, is comparable to a version of this model which offered at Sotheby's, London, 13 December 2000, Lot 102, and is likely to have been worked in Cavaceppi's workshop.