A Roman Marble Figure of Aphrodite, circa 2nd Century A.D.

standing with the weight on her left leg, her left arm relaxed, and wearing a loose himation tucked under her left arm, wrapped around her right hip, and falling in long zigzag folds to her feet in front; on its original Giustiniani Collection faceted marble base; formerly restored were the head, right arm raised to her left breast, left hand holding an apple, and several drapery folds.

Marchese Vincenzo Giustiniani (1564-1637), Palazzo Giustiniani, Rome
Sotheby's, Monaco, October 25th/26th, 1981, no. 375A, illus. (covered in paint, still with restored head and right arm, catalogued as 19th Century)
French private collection
acquired from the above by the present owner

FIRST RECORDED
1638 inventory of the Palazzo Giustiniani (Angela Gallottini, Le sculture della collezione Giustiniani I. Documenti, Rome, 1998, pp. 79ff., as no. 72 ''una Venere antica ristaurata mezza vestita e mezza ignuda dal ventre in su'').

LAST RECORDED
1811 inventory of the Palazzo Giustiniani (Gallottini, op. cit., pp. 266ff., as no. 28: "statua seminuda di Venere tenente un pomo")

PUBLISHED
Galleria Giustiniana, vol. I, Rome, circa 1640, pl. 39
Comte de Clarac, Musée de sculpture antique et moderne, vol. 4, Paris, 1850, p. 77f., no. 1300, pl. 595
Salomon Reinach, Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine, vol. 1, Paris, 1897, p. 319, no. 1

As described. All old marble restorations were removed and discarded several decades ago. Chip below nape of neck. Most of drapery fold ridges abraded and/or chipped, many showing prepared and pinned surfaces for missing marbles restorations. Fingers of proper left foot weathered. One toe on right foot fragmentary. The statue could use further cleaning, as it still bears many traces of the gray paint in which it was entirely covered when sold in 1981, giving its surface a mottled appearance. Isolated chips on front and back of 17th century marble base into which the statue is inserted and firmly secured, probably pinned.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cf. the statue of a nymph sold at NFA Classical Auctions, New York, December 11th, 1991, no. 166.

Another long lost sculpture from the famed Giustiniani Collection of ancient sculpture, a group of Eros and Anteros, was sold at Sotheby’s New York, December 8th, 2011, no. 15. Originally from the same collection comes a herm bust of a goddess sold at Sotheby’s, New York, June 5th, 2008, no. 30, engraved in Galleria Giustiniana, vol. II, ca. 1640, pl. 56.