Roman Marble Relief Stele - Mother, Child, Lion, & Bull

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Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 2, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-12-02 10:00:00 2021-12-02 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-7918
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• Lot Description
  Roman, Eastern Empire, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. An exemplary marble relief stele displaying 2 diverse scenes: one of a mother and child and the other of a lion wrestling with a bull. The verso is inscribed with 6 lines of Ancient Greek script, likely dedicating the stele to the deceased. In the larger, lower segment, the mother figure sits in a sizeable, throne-like chair to the right, draped in a floor-length stola and palla that cascade in billowing folds down her body and lay in a puddle of fabric at her feet, as a soft veil covers her head. Shown in profile, she faces right, gazing at her child, while bending her left arm at the elbow to place her hand at her mouth and holding out her right hand, as though offering something to him or her. The petite child stands in the right corner, wearing a long tunic and holding their right arm to their chest. The long tunic suggests that the child may be female as male children traditionally wore shorter tunics. Size: 12" L x 2.8" W x 17.9" H (30.5 cm x 7.1 cm x 45.5 cm)
  
  Given the size and detail with which the mother is rendered, this relief was likely intended to commemorate her passing by showing her spending time with her beloved child. This endearing and peaceful scene is sharply contrasted by the image above it, which presents a tumultuous battle between a lion and bull. Seemingly victorious in the struggle, the lion holds down the bull's head with one paw, as the weary ungulate raises its back end, trying to pull away and in effect appearing to bow at his adversary in defeat. One of the oldest allegorical symbols, the lion-bull motif was commonly used throughout the ancient world, especially in stelae like this example. It represents the fundamental forces of life and death in a terrible, intense struggle; the bull being the life force that is activated by being slain by the lion. The verso of the stele bears an inscription of 6 lines in Ancient Greek, likely stating the name of who the stele is dedicated to and the name of those who commissioned the piece.
  
  In the classical world, lions symbolized power, wealth, and might. They were famously featured in many ancient myths, perhaps the most famous being that of Hercules (Greek Herakles) slaying the Nemean lion for his first labor. The lion's fur was believed to be impenetrable to attacks since according to legend it was made of gold and its claws were far sharper than swords with the power to slice through armor. In the end, Hercules defeated the lion by strangling it and wore its skin. Lions were also favorite iconography for buildings, coins, and statues. Examples include the Lion Gate to the Citadel of Mycenae, the Terrace of the Lions on the island of Delos, and the lion hunt mosaic from Pella featuring Alexander engaged in a lion hunt. Of course, lions were also used in the Roman arenas where they would fight other animals, such as tigers and bears.
  
  Prior to the 2nd century, Romans cremated their dead; around that time, inspired by the Greek and Etruscan practice of using sarcophagi, they began to place their dead in sarcophagi. This trend spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire. In the western part of the Empire, which based on the leaf motif this panel probably came from, sarcophagi were placed inside a mausoleum against a wall or in a niche, so the only decorated panels were on the front and the short sides. This stele probably came from the grave of a high-status Roman citizen.
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, USA; ex-East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
  
  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.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #159184

  Condition

  Fragment of a larger piece. Chips and losses to peripheries as well as heads of woman and lion. Expected surface wear with softening of detail, as well as nicks and abrasions, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent.
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