ANTONINE PERIOD, CIRCA MID-2ND CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF A MAN
ANTONINE PERIOD, CIRCA MID-2ND CENTURY A.D.
8 ¼ in. (21 cm.) high

Provenance

with Donati, Arte Classica, Lugano.
Dr. Anton Pestalozzi (1915-2007), Zurich, acquired from the above, 1990; thence by descent to the current owner.

Literature

I. Jucker, Skulpturen der Antiken-Sammlung Ennetwies, Mainz am Rhein, 1995, Band 1, pp. 40-41, no. 23, pls. 47-48.
Arachne Online Database no. 32232.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

This broad and characterful portrait depicts an ageing male sporting a plentiful crop of hair and a trimmed beard and moustache. The visage bears a number of fine sculptural details highlighting the maturity of the individual, and the aptitude of the sculptor. The eyes themselves are particularly detailed, with the iris and pupil of each richly defined. The style of the head itself is a transitional blend of Trajanic and Hadrianic portrait characteristics. While the thickly drilled fringe is a feature reminiscient of portraits under the Emperor Trajan, the inclusion of a closely cut full beard is a distinctive trait first popularised in Roman sculpture by Hadrian.

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