PROFILE OF AN EMPEROR Profile of the emperor Galba... Lot 158
Result :
Not available
Estimate :
Subscribers only
PROFILE OF AN EMPEROR Profile of the emperor Galba (?) in white marble sculpted in bas-relief. The emperor is represented in straight profile, laurelled, with bushy eyebrows, the end of the eye marked with a crow's foot, the nose slightly arched, the cheeks with distended skin, the chin heavy and curved. Ring of fixation on the reverse.
16th century
H. 30 cm - W. 19,2 cm
PROVENANCE This beautiful profile was part of a set of the Twelve Caesars, one of the most fashionable decorative themes of the Renaissance.
The taste for profiles in particular, in close relation with the study of ancient coins and their collections, was at the origin, very early in the 16th century, of the realization of series. Thus the Cardinal of Amboise, on his return from Italy, started the fashion by commissioning a series of marble bas-reliefs of busts of reclining emperors for his castle of Gaillon (1506 to 1509). Later, in the middle of the 16th century, François Landry from Salin sculpted thirty-two profiles of Roman emperors in alabaster on a coloured marble background for the Granvelle family.
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.