Large Marble Draped Torso of Goddess - Venus

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
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• Lot Description
  Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An exceptional, finely carved marble figure of a goddess, most likely Venus (Greek Aphrodite) - the goddess of love, standing in contrapposto with her right leg lifted and advanced, suggesting forward movement as her weight shifts to her left leg, and draped in an elegant diaphemous chiton and himation, the fabric folds skillfully delineated and cascading over her body, though her left breast is revealed - in a manner similar to the famous Venus Genetrix of Rome's Julio Claudian dynasty. This idealistic representation displays the sculptor's inheritance of the Classical Greek tradition, demonstrating a continued Greek influence over Roman sculptors. Clearly, the technical skill of this sculptor was paramount. Indeed the artist who created this piece possessed the expertise required to turn stone to fabric and flesh! Size: 28" H (71.1 cm); 31" H (78.7 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  The sculptor's ability to capture the goddess in contrapposto, implying a rhythmic sense of motion, as her weight is shifted onto her left leg and her right leg advances, conjures a quality of human vitality in this sculpture. Such calculated poses were inspired by the works of Polykleitos and became the model to which sculptors aspired in Graeco-Roman as well as later Western European art. Although no particular attributes of this figure are visible, the fine level of technique and artistry displayed in this piece suggests that it depicted a goddess - perhaps Venus (Aphrodite in the Greek pantheon), the goddess of romantic love, who magically rose from the sea on a giant scallop shell. The pose and revealed breast are most similar to the famous Venus Genetrix. This form of the goddess was honored specifically by the Julio-Claudian dynasty, whose members followed Julius Caesar's precedent of claiming Venus as their ancestor. A masterfully realized figure presenting a convincing naturalistic pose implying lifelike movement as well as exceptional modeling of her body and garment.
  
  See the Venus Genetrix at the J. Paul Getty Museum (http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/29502/unknown-maker-statue-of-venus-genetrix-roman-2nd-century-ad/?dz=#2c9c2014b59e5a18b91cb7f9b051d05fc2302b0a). According to the curatorial team at the Getty, "The depiction of the goddess in this pose and attire, known as the Venus Genetrix type, is known in numerous Roman replicas. The multiple versions of this statue have led scholars to conclude that it reproduces a now-lost Greek statue that must have been very famous in antiquity. The style of the clinging, almost wet-looking garment dates the original Greek statue to the years around 410 B.C."
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection, acquired at La Reine Margot, Paris, France in the 2000s; ex-private old French collection, acquired in the 1970s
  
  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.
  
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  #142459

  Condition

  A section from a larger statue with losses as shown. Expected surface wear with abrasions and losses to high-pointed areas. Mineral deposits across the surface. Nice size and strong representation.
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