MAN'S HEAD Roman art, Julio-Claudian era 1st... Lot 3

MAN'S HEAD Roman art, Julio-Claudian era 1st century BC White marble; repolished later, nose missing Height 33 cm Provenance Private collection of Mr X. (1931-2017) dispersed for the benefit of the Monegasque Red Cross monégasque A ROMAN MARBLE HEAD OF A MAN, 1ST CENTURY B.C. 13 in. High The head is turned slightly to the left and was probably inserted into a bust or statue, as evidenced by the base of the neck. The face is characterized by marked features; hollow cheeks disappear between high cheekbones and a square jaw. The chin is prominent and broad, the mouth closed, with full, arched lips whose slightly drooping corners create a shadow. The eyes are small, the eyeball almond shaped, the upper eyelid is thicker than the lower eyelid. They are surmounted by a modeled and drooping brow bone, marked by oblique expression lines, which join the horizontal lines of the forehead. The hair, more abundant and thick at the level of the forehead is placed in furces towards the temples, leaving the ears free. On the rest of the head the hair is in thick split ends and arranged at the back in a short wave of notches. At the top of the head, the hair is more consumed. The mature and virile physiognomy accentuated by the presence of a double chin as well as the hard and preoccupied expression recalls the representations of General Vispanius Agrippa (fig. 1 and 2). The head is slightly turned to the left and was probably inserted in a bust or statue a bust or statue, as evidenced by the base of the neck. The face is characterized by strong features; the hollow cheeks disappear between high cheekbones and a square jaw. The chin is prominent and wide, the mouth closed, with fleshy, arched lips whose slightly drooping corners create a shadow. The eyes are small, the eyeball almond-shaped, the upper lid thicker than the lower. They are surmounted by a modelled and drooping eyebrow arch marked by oblique expression lines, which join the horizontal ones on the forehead. The hair, more abundant and thicker on the forehead, is placed in forks towards the temples, leaving the ears free. On the rest of the head the hair is thickly split and set back in a short wave of notches. At the top of the head, the hair is more consumed. The mature and virile physiognomy accentuated by the presence of a double chin as well as the hard and preoccupied expression recalls the representations of general Vispanius Agrippa (fig.1 and 2).