Roman Empire, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A nude male figure standing in a relaxed or dare I say seductive pose with his right arm arched over his head, his left resting upon a draped column, his athletic body forming a sinuous S-curve beloved by Classical and later Renaissance artists. The nude figure was first idealized by the ancient Greeks. Athletic competitions at sacred religious festivals upheld the human body, particularly that of the male, as a work of art. Athletes competed in the nude and the ancient Greeks regarded them as the epitome of quintessential humanity. Hence, the male nude body became associated with victory, glory, and moral fortitude. This concept of heroic nudity was later adopted by the ancient Romans. Notable Roman sculptures capturing this concept of flawless, nude perfection include the renowned Seated Boxer (ca. 100 to 50 BCE, Museo Nazionale Romano) and the brilliant the Dying Gaul (ca. 230-220 BCE, Musei Capitolini, Rome). A finely carved exemplar of the male nude from Ancient Rome! Size: 6" L x 3" W (15.2 cm x 7.6 cm)

Provenance: Ex-private M. Reiniger collection, Chicago, IL.

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#111398

A stable crack to lower half. Losses to bottom end as shown.