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Roman Marble Head Fragment

$46,000
£35,181.93
€40,262.24
CA$65,470.62
A$70,885.61
CHF 37,686.61
MX$854,929.32
NOK 473,930.43
SEK 441,838.13
DKK 300,707.89

About the Item

This fine Roman marble head fragment, with broad nose, soft lips, and bearded chin, captures the likeness of one of the most important playwrights of all time. Skilfully carved, it preserves the proper left side of the face of a middle-aged man, identified in 1975 by the former director of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, as the Ancient Greek tragedian, Sophocles. The short beard and sideburns are finely carved with a flat chisel, masterfully rendering the soft, wavy strands of hair. The cheekbone, undereye, and nasolabial folds have been similarly sensitively modelled. Honoured as a hero both in his lifetime and long after his death, Sophocles (c. 496-406 BC) was an icon of classical culture, whose works inspired generations of scholars, including Sigmund Freud. Once in the collection of Danish sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau (1816-1883), this evocative fragment offers a rare encounter with one of antiquity’s greatest literary minds. Provenance: Collection of Danish sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau (1816-1883) Sold at the Jerichau estate sale in 1884, lot 47-50 Subsequently with Danish philosopher Prof. Claudius Wilkens (1844-1929) Danish private collection, by inheritance. Please note that this item is a work of art and is thus exempt from US reciprocal tariffs. ArtAncient are dealers in rare wonders from the formation of the Solar System to late antiquity, discovering, studying and placing objects in extraordinary collections. Do not hesitate to contact us for more details on this piece.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.3 in (16.01 cm)Width: 7 in (17.78 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
  • Style:
    Classical Roman (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1st-2nd Century AD
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 428001stDibs: LU1052246012732

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