- 57
A Roman Marble Portrait Head of Livia, early 1st Century A.D.
Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A Roman Marble Portrait Head of Livia
- marble
- Height 36 cm. 14 1/8 in.; height of head 21 cm. 8 1/4 in.
the neck carved in a cone shape for insertion into a statue, leaning slightly to her right, her oval face with delicate bow-shaped lips and large wide-set rounded eyes under slightly arched brow, her hair parted in the center, divided into three tiers above the temples, arranged in a tapering braid on top of the head, and bound in a chignon wrapped in the braid in back; no restorations.
Provenance
Galeria de antiguidades de Othilia de Sampaio e Mello, Rua do Alecrim 63, Lisbon
Gabriel Pinto da Cunha, Portugal, acquired from the above on June 27th, 1960
French-Portuguese private collection, acquired from the above in 1961
private collection, by descent
Gabriel Pinto da Cunha, Portugal, acquired from the above on June 27th, 1960
French-Portuguese private collection, acquired from the above in 1961
private collection, by descent
Literature
Galerie Chenel, Paris, Un homme & une femme, exh. cat., 2015, unpaginated
Condition
As described, nose broken as shown, large loss on top of proper right side of chignon, broad shallow chip on proper left side of neck, various chips and abrasions.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The facial features are characteristic of the known portraits of Livia, wife of emperor Augustus (reigned 27 B.C.–14 A.D.). The best comparison for the coiffure appears to be a damaged portrait of Livia from Leptis Magna: E. Portale in T. Stephanidou-Tiveriou, et al., eds., Klasikē paradosē kai neōterika stoicheia stēn plastikē tēs rhōmaikēs Elladas, 2012, pp. 477ff., figs. 4f. This head is described as a contamination of two portrait-types, the Faiyum-type (E. Bartman, Portraits of Livia, 1999, p. 145, figs. 114f.) and the Kiel-type (Bartman, op. cit., p. 145, figs. 116f.). The present head and the one from Leptis Magna probably derive from a common original and may be considered as evidence for yet another specific portrait type of the empress.