A ROMAN MARBLE HEAD OF APHRODITE, 2ND HALF OF THE 2ND CENTURY A.D. | A Roman Marble Head of Aphrodite

from an over-lifesize figure, her head turned to her left, lips parted, her thick deeply-drilled hair swept back in long waves over the pierced earlobes and surmounted by a crescentic diadem with castellated border, a curl escaping before each ear; no restorations.

Robin Symes, London
Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, May 20th, 1982, no. 148, illus.
Sotheby's, New York, December 17th, 1992, no. 90, illus.
acquired by the present owner at the above sale

As shown. Areas of incrustation and root mark overall, especially over roughly carved surfaces, such as back of diadem and back of hair. Note losses to face and to top of diadem, and areas of abrasion to hair. Fresh chip to hair on back of neck on proper left side.
"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 hair falling from the crown over the nape of the neck divides into two thick strands, which were likely held up by the hands in the common gesture of Aphrodite wringing the sea foam from her hair (Aphrodite Anadyomene). There is a discrepancy between this feature and the way the hair is brushed back over the temples, particularly on the proper left profile, suggesting that the Anadyomene motif was superimposed on a different statuary type. A good example of this is a statue of Aphrodite Anadyomene from Leptis Magna (G. Caputo and G. Traversari, Le sculture del teatro di Leptis Magna, 1976, pp. 61ff., no. 41, pl. 37), which is based on the type of the Capitoline Aphrodite. The high diadem of the present head is a decorative feature added by the Roman sculptor (cf. a head of the Artemis Colonna type with diadem in Marino: G. de Rossi, Bovillae, Forma Italiae, vol. I.15, 1979, p. 350, fig. 600,1).
For a head type of Aphrodite of similar size see H. Lauter, Antike Plastik, vol. 19, 1988, pp. 21ff.