Rome, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A breathtaking modeled head of a deity, perhaps Apollo, in wondrous Classical style, subtly turned on his elegant neck, with almost feminine features and hairstyle. The youthful god of music, the sun, light, poetry, prophesy, healing and more is depicted in an idealized manner with "pretty boy" features on that elegant oval face as it tapers to a soft, square chin, as a billowing wavy coiffure with curly locks of hair frames his noble countenance. Size: 4.375" W x 5.75" H (11.1 cm x 14.6 cm); 8.75" H (22.2 cm) on custom stand

His sacred visage is embellished with gracefully arching brows that merge into his straight, aquiline nose, mesmerizing almond-shaped eyes with drilled pupils and varying textures that range from the fleshiness of his thick lids to the fluid properties of his eyes proper, and his bow-shaped mouth with full, curvy lips that are slightly parted. The realistic proportions of this face suggest that this sculptor revered mathematically based proportions in his figures, much like the revered Greek sculptor Polykleitos who purportedly said, "Perfection comes about little by little through many numbers". Notice the attention to even the smallest details, i.e. the precise delineation of those eyes, each lock of hair, and the parted lips.

Provenance: ex-private East Coast, USA collection

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#120482

A section with losses more prominent on one side of the head. Nevertheless, a remarkably well-preserved fragment with slight surface wear and mineral deposits as shown.