A carved white marble bust of Menelaus Italian, 19th century, after the Antique

There is grey veining visible across the chest and in the helmet. There is some dirt to the surface and some minor spots of white paint. There are chips to the edges. Otherwise the condition is good.
"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."

This impressive bust is modelled after the bearded soldier in the famous antique Pasquino group. The present bust, with its elaborate classicizing helmet, is particularly similar to the figure in a version of the group held in the Loggia dei  Lanzi, Florence. This marble, which had been acquired by Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1570, was restored by Lodovico Salvetti, using a model by Pietro Tacca in the seventeenth century, and again by Stefano Ricci in the early nineteenth century, before being installed in its present location. The model itself is thought to derive from a 3^rd century B.C. Pergamene original. Numerous identifications have been given to the figures, including Ajax carrying the body of Patroclus. However, following an argument proposed by Visconti in 1788, the group is today held to represent Menelaus carrying the dead body of Patroclus.

RELATED LITERATURE

F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the Antique: The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven and Yale, 1981, no. 72, pp. 291-296