Roman, Republic Period, ca. 40 BCE. Skillfully carved from white marble, the head of an elderly male, quite serious in nature, perhaps portraying a Roman senator. The veristic rendering of his visage is a product of keen observation on the part of the sculptor. Note the furrows across his forehead, the wrinkles between his eyes, those deep-set, large, almond-shaped eyes with heavy lids, his pursed thin lips flanked by nasolabial creases, and overall sunken gaunt face with pronounced cheek bones and a cleft chin. Conveying even more realism is the delineation of an Adam's apple on his neck. The epitome of Republican "warts and all" portraiture! Size: 8.5" L x 7.5" W x 13.625" H (21.6 cm x 19 cm x 34.6 cm); 19.25" H (48.9 cm) on included custom stand.

This remarkably realistic representation suggests that the portrait may have been created during the sitter's lifetime or very soon after death, perhaps taken from a death mask. The sculptors' "warts and all" approach which may seem unflattering to modern eyes, was extremely popular during the late Republic and Early Empire periods. Such realistic portraits were created to preserve records of elite members of society such as senators, generals, and other high-ranking officials.

In the Classical world, portraiture served two main functions - all depended upon whether the subject was dead or alive. Images of the deceased were created for ancestral worship and kept in a private or family context. Ancestral busts preserved the individual's contributions and legitimized the family line. Sometimes masks of important ancestors were worn at funeral processions. Images of the living, on the other hand, were placed in public contexts, as a means of commemorating the individual's might, oftentimes honoring a military victory or public benefaction. For example, sculptures of Augustus and successive emperors served to advertise and affirm their power.

A Late Republican marble head of a mature male realized GBP 338,500 at Christie's London (1 October 2014 - Sale 1561 - Lot 123.

Also see a similar portrait of an old man from a tomb relief, said to be from Rome, now in the Metropolitan Museum, inventory number 17.230.133.

Provenance: ex-private London, England collection, imported to the US in 1986

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#147479

Old losses to end of nose, back of head, and neckline that have smoothed over time. Chips to brow line, cheeks, ears, and other high-pointed areas that also have smoothed over time. Stable surface fissures on nose and cheeks, but only on the surface. Marble has worn beautifully with age showing nice deposits and crystallized areas.