A Roman marble head of the philosopher Hermarchus
Circa 1st Century A.D.
A Roman copy of a Greek original, of fine, close-grained marble, with much of the original polish remaining, carved with pronounced ridged brow, delicately rimmed eyes, full lips and thick curling hair and beard, 12cm high
Footnotes:
Provenance:
Kenzo collection, acquired early 1980s, (the late fashion designer).
French private collection.
With Charles Ede Ltd.
Acquired from the above on the 12 June 2008.

Published:
Charles Ede Ltd, Greek and Roman Sculpture in Stone, 2007, no.9.

The Greek early 3rd Century philosopher, Hermarchus, trained as a rhetorician but went on to become a pupil of Epicurus. In around 270 B.C. he became the successor of the school of Epicurus. None of Hermarchus' work survives but it would seem, judging from comments by Cicero, that it was polemical in style and critical of the philosophy of both Plato and Aristotle.

There is a similar 1st century A.D. Roman head of a philosopher in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts acc.no.1972.971, which it is suggested may possibly depict Hermarchus or Democritus, a forerunner of Epicurus who argued that the world was composed of atoms and that the human spirit should seek tranquillity, moderation, pleasure and wisdom. See also G. Richter, Portraits of the Greeks, New York, 1984, p.129.