A good marble head of a man, attributed to Bartolomeo Cavaceppi Rome, late 18th century

the statesman carved with wavy hair brushed forward over the pronounced forehead, the cheek framed by sideburns, on socle with integral nameplate; the marble employed to carve the head is of a dense type, formed large crystalline structure, the locks, left side of chin and underside of the reverse appear to show traces of root marks and chalky encrustation, the socle, also of dense marble is formed of very fine crystalline structure

Presumed to have been purchased from Bartolomeo Cavaceppi (circa 1716-1799) by Leopold III, Friedrich Franz, Fürst und Herzog von Anhalt-Dessau (1740-1817)

Schloss Mosigkau, Dessau

Related Literature:
Thomas Weiss ed., 'Von der Schoenheit weissen Marmors: Zum 200. Todestag Bartolomeo Cavaceppis, Kataloge und Schriften der Kulturstiftung Dessau - Woerlitz, Mainz, 1999

In overall good condition, minor surface dirt. Few small areas of abrasion, minor wear and weathering to the hair. Small chips to the rims, the reverse with remnants of chalky encrustation, probably from former attachment. The flesh surface possibly refinished, both eyebrows and tip of nose chipped. Proper left ear with chip to earlobe, the proper right ear with loss to upper rim, related small loss to the hair immediately above. Small discolored area to the front neck, probably a small restoration. The underside chipped in two places, the socle with larger chip to the front (circa 6 by 4cm.). The socle probably associated.
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The enlightened Fürst Leopold III travelled to Rome with Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff (1736-1800). The latter had previously received tuition on modelling sculpture from Bartolomeo Cavaceppi. There they purchased a number of ancient sculptures and copies by Cavaceppi. The sculptor also travelled to Schloss Woerlitz, where he sculpted the portraits of Fürst Leopold III and his wife.
The bust was described in the family  as a portrait of Cato, the likely classical prototype for this portrait is however Cicero. The two very different types of marble employed and the root marks visible on the head offer the possibility that an ancient head may have served to immortalise an 18th century Statesman.