A Monumental Roman Marble Portrait Head of Vespasian, circa A.D. 70–80

with sturdy neck carved in a cone shape for insertion into a statue, turned to his right, his square face with sunken lips, deep crow's feet, and balding pate, the back of the head with small area carved flat and prepared for now missing ancient marble patch; restored in painted plaster(?) are the middle section of upper lip, nose, eyebrows, and entire forehead.

Roman art market, 1934 or earlier
Trygve J. B. Hoff (1895-1982), Oslo, acquired prior to 1956 upon the advice of Hans Peter L'Orange
by descent to the present owner

RECORDED
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome (Inst. Neg. 34.1943–46: http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilderbestand/845425; http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/marbilderbestand/845426)

PUBLISHED
Filippo Magi, I rilievi flavi del Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome, 1945, p. 58
Hans P. L’Orange, "Romerske skulpturer V," Farmand, vol. 45, 1956, pp. 28ff. 
Georg Daltrop, Ulrich Hausmann, and Max Wegner, Die Flavier, Das römische Herrscherbild, vol. II.1, Berlin, 1966, p. 78 („plumpe Fälschung“)
Siri Sande, "Antikke portretter i norsk privateie," Kunst og kultur, vol. 56, 1973, p. 48
Siri Sande, Greek and Roman Portraits in Norwegian Collections (ActaAArtHist, vol. 10), Rome, 1991 p. 50f., no. 36, pl. 36

As described, numerous chips and abrasions, areas of incrustation especially on neck and cheeks, Kinn bestossen, stress crack on back of head and behind proper left ear.
"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."

The head depicts the roman emperor Vespasian, who reigned between A.D. 69–79 AD. For two colossal portraits in Naples see C. Gasparri, ed., Le sculture Farnese, vol. 2, 2009, p. 76f., nos. 51–52, pl. 50f.

Norwegian businessman and magazine editor Trygve Hoff also owned a portrait of emperor Pupienus, which was sold at Sotheby’s, New York, December 17th, 1996, no. 134 (now in a German private coll.: A. Mlasowsky, Imagines imperii, 2006, p. 83f., no. 16, pl. 22f.).