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Press Release d Ancient Marbles: Classical Sculpture and Works of Art d 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. h 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. PRESS CONTACTS [email protected] [email protected] # 0207 293 6000 # # FOR MORE NEWS FROM SOTHEBY’S News & Video: http://www.sothebys.com/en/news-video.htm l Twitter: www.twitter.com/sothebys Instagram: www.instagram.com/sothebys Facebook: www.facebook.com/sothebys Snapchat ID: sothebys YouTube: www.youtube.com/SothebysTV Weibo: www.weibo.com/sothebyshongkong WeChat ID: sothebyshongkong Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973), India (1992) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids from anywhere in the world. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as the collection advisory services of its subsidiary, Art Agency, Partners. Sotheby’s presents private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby's Global Fine Art Division, and two retail businesses, Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 80 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). *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. Images are available upon request Browse sale catalogues, view original content, stream live auctions and more at www.sothebys.com, and through Sotheby’s apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV and Amazon Fire