Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st century CE. An incredible marble bust of a general. The piece presents the front of a general's chest, supported in the back by a concave stand, resting on a round plinth. The figure wears a protective, vest-like jacket with short leather strips that fall over the shoulder beneath a plain cuirass with long shoulder straps (epomydes) that terminate in attachment rings and thongs. Over his left shoulder is a paludamentum, the cloak or cape fastened at one shoulder and worn by military commanders and emperors. The carving here is skillful, smooth, with sparing use of detail creating a powerful portrait. Size: 6.35" L x 13.5" W x 13.2" H (16.1 cm x 34.3 cm x 33.5 cm)

The epomydes and paludamentum were two of the signifiers of Roman military rank. Epomydes were permanently affixed to the dorsal plate of armor, allowing it to be affixed to the breastplate of the cuirass using a series of leather thongs and ring hooks. Straps of this form were affixed to muscled cuirasses, and were often decorative. The paludamentum, meanwhile, was in use from the early days of Rome, and served as a cloak for generals and emperors, depicted in numerous cuirassed sculptures as well as on Trajan's column. It was dyed scarlet or purple or bleached white, and must have been quite a sight when worn, especially as it was worn when setting out for or returning from war. It was a symbol of legitimate authority as well as honor. For example, Marc Antony ordered that Brutus be cremated while wearing his. Sculptures like this one depicted the Roman imperial general dressed in his full military parade costume, suggesting a return from a great victory. Statues of this style were erected throughout the Roman world in honor of the imperial family, generals, local heroes, and Mars, the god of war, and they have been found in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Gorny and Mosch, Munich, Germany, June 21, 2005, Lot #353

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#137839

Piece is a fragment without a head or one shoulder. Also a loss to the front of the paludamentum. Scratches and chips commensurate with age, with light deposits.