Download Ancient Marbles: Classical Sculpture and Works of Art

Press Release
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Ancient Marbles: Classical Sculpture and Works of Art
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Sotheby’s London, 12 June 2016
Sotheby’s London, May 2017: An auction dedicated exclusively to the classical world, Ancient
Marbles will take place on 12 June at Sotheby’s London – offering ancient sculpture and works of art
from the Greek, Roman and Etruscan periods. Since the Renaissance, collecting ancient classical
marble sculpture has been considered synonymous with good taste and the apex of culture, and
Sotheby’s exhibition will draw on these roots whilst also presenting the pieces in a contemporary
context. The auction will be led by a Roman marble bust of a military officer, a striking piece that
depicts a single sitter yet represents an entire era – acting as a reminder of the way in which
antiquities have influenced artists throughout history, who continue to use portraiture as a
representation of their times. Many artists themselves have been avid collectors of classical
sculpture, from Rubens through to Cy Twombly. With estimates ranging from £2,000 to £500,000,
the sale presents an opportunity for first time buyers as well as seasoned collectors.
Florent Heintz, Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art, said: “The
storied pasts of ancient marbles are central to their allure, transporting the viewer back thousands of
years and capturing the imaginations of institutions and private collectors alike. This can be felt
particularly in the top lot of the sale, the magnificent Roman bust, whose character shines through from
the exuberance of his hair to the direct power of his gaze. The interest in the field has been expanding in
recent years, with a growth in Medici-style collectors who wish to live with the best of the best – be it an
antiquity or a contemporary artwork.”
From Ancient Rome to 1960’s Jamaica: The Story of Four Statues
Four Roman Marble figures of women, circa 2nd
Century A.D. (from left to right, est. £250,000350,000,
£150,000-250,000,
£100,000-150,000,
£150,000-250,000)
In homage to the Villa Adriana in Italy – a vast palace
with many pools, baths and fountains constructed as a
retreat for Emperor Hadrian – this group of four ancient
Roman statues have been set in a stunning colonnade
around a swimming pool in the opulent ‘El Cerro’ villa in
Jamaica for half a century.
In 1968, Douglas and Diene Cooper, jewellers from
Philadelphia, inaugurated El Cerro – their magnificent
new villa overlooking Montego Bay. Everything at El
Cerro reflected the luxurious lifestyle of Philadelphia’s
high society, from the octagonal living room echoing the
shape of a diamond to the Michelangelo-esque painted
frescos and a chess set created by Duchamp
for his friend Dali. Indeed, the jet-set
photographer Slim Aarons included a view
of the statues and pool in his book A
Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of the
Good Life (1974). The couple even hosted a
toga party like no other on the Ides of March
in 1974, when guests were “commanded” to
don Roman costume and attend the feast of
Caesar Douglas and Queen Diene of the
House of Coopers. A guest commented to a
Philadelphia newspaper, ‘I have been to
many fun parties in my life, but never have I
been to anything quite like this Roman
Bacchanal’.
These ancient statues will now be returning to London, having been acquired from Crowther’s in the
1960s, in what is a rare opportunity to acquire four statues of this scale at the same time.
A Roman Imperial Marble Portrait Bust of a Man, 2nd half of the 2nd Century A.D.
The auction will be led by an exceptionally well-preserved and powerful portrait Roman bust of the
mid to late 2nd Century A.D., with an estimate of £300,000-500,000. Carved out of a single piece of
marble, this depiction of a high ranking military officer is virtually intact and provides a glimpse into
Roman personalities through their portraiture. The rarity of the bust lies in the fact that the head
belongs to the same piece of marble as the base, along with the condition of the surface, which was
not, as was often the case, over-cleaned and retains most of its original polish. Acquired in 1965 by
the Denver Art Museum, it is now being sold to benefit the Museum’s acquisition fund.
The aesthetic achievements of ancient Rome
stand as a great milestone in the history of art,
and it is in the area of portraiture that Roman
sculpture really comes to the fore and
differentiates itself from other artistic
traditions. This period’s inclination towards
realism and accurate descriptions were crucial
in the development of realist portraiture.
Viewed now as works of art, the Romans
would have commissioned such portrait busts
as objects of commemoration. For private
individuals, these were displayed in the home
or in a funerary context whilst for public
figures, such as emperors, generals, and
statesmen, they would have been erected in
public places. Moreover, Romans believed that
a person’s individuality was inherent wholly in
their facial features. Thus, the artistic realism
was often employed to express socially
approved values – qualities of selfless duty to
the state, sober morality, military bravery and
public responsibility. In this case, a
determined turn of the head betrays the strong
character of the subject. This bust also displays
another innovation in the rendering of the
eyes, as previously, pupil and iris had only been painted on to the sculpture but now these also came
to be sculpted.
It was the convention to imitate the hairstyle of the current emperor, and this portrait finds its
closest parallels in those of Antonius Pius – one of political philosopher Machiavelli’s "Five Good
Emperors". Distinguished by the cape (paludamentum) worn over his shoulder, it is most likely that
he was a member of the elite senatorial or equestrian class – the military reference thus indicating
his social class.
Further Highlights
A Roman Marble Head of Sarapis, late 2nd Century
A.D. (est. £60,000-80,000)
This object was formerly in the collection of Louis de
Clercq, a French industrialist and politician passionate
about archaeology and photography in the 19th century
who amassed a remarkable collection – the lion’s share
of which is housed at the Musée du Louvre.
Sarapis figured among the international deities whose
cult was received and disseminated throughout the
Roman Empire. A Graeco-Egyptian god, he was endorsed
during the 3rd century B.C. on the orders of Ptolemy I of
Egypt as a means to unify the Greeks and Egyptians in his realm. He was
depicted as Greek in appearance but with Egyptian trappings, signifying
both abundance and resurrection. The Roman cults of Serapis gained in
popularity when Vespasian experienced events he attributed to his
miraculous agency while he was in Alexandria, where he stayed before
returning to Rome as emperor in 70 A.D.
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A Fragmentary Roman Marble Figure of Apollo, 1st/2nd Century A.D.,
with Venetian restorations, 1st half of 16th century (est. £50,00080,000)
In the 17th century, this statue of Apollo was displayed in the Villa
Montalto in Rome, which had been constructed as the grand residence of
Pope Sixtus V. The object appears restored in an early 17th century
drawing in the Codex Montalto from this time, reinforcing the belief that
the upper part of the body was the work of an early 16th-century
Venetian sculptor’s workshop – similar to a number of restored statues
in the Archaeological Museum in Venice. This is an exceptionally rare
finding, as the majority of restoration on Roman Greek sculptures took
place in the 18th century.
A Roman Marble Portrait Head of Socrates, 1st/2nd Century A.D., on
18th century herm shoulders (est. £80,000-120,000)
Long lost for decades, this portrait of classical Greek philosopher
Socrates’ was rediscovered recently and comes to auction with a
provenance dating back to the 19th century, having been in the
prestigious collections of Sir John Dickson-Poynder and William
Randolph Hearst.
A Greek Marble Grave Stele, Ionia, circa late 2nd Century B.C. (est.
£45,000-65,000)
Boasting exceptional condition, this funerary stele depicts two youths
shaking hands, each wearing traditional Greek garments. This was
rediscovered in a private home in California, where it had been kept
since the 1920s.
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*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are net of
any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.
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