Superb Roman Marble Herm of Mars

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 4, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-06-04 10:00:00 2020-06-04 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-5185
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• Lot Description
  Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A striking, beautifully weathered bust of the god of war, Mars (Ares), depicted here as a seasoned warrior, wearing a helmet with a crest, with the base squared-off in the shape of a herm. His face features large, deepset eyes - which once would have been painted - underneath a heavy brow, a short, flat nose, and a small mouth surrounded by a magnificent curled beard. The curls of his hair are visible underneath the edges of his helmet, above his small ears. Drilled details create a naturalistic appearance for the entire bust, which also features two small perforations on its lower sides, presumably so it could be attached to something larger. Marble sculptures of Mars have been found in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Size: 2.75" L x 5.05" W x 8.55" H (7 cm x 12.8 cm x 21.7 cm)
  
  Marble statuary, reliefs, and cladding were ubiquitous in the Roman world, as the remains of the preserved cities at Herculaneum and Pompeii demonstrate. Their sculpture was intended to conjure human vitality, and was inspired by the works of Polykleitos, who became the model to which sculptors aspired in Greco-Roman as well as later Western European art. Greco-Roman statuary, unlike that of the other Mediterranean civilizations like Egypt, Persia, etc., celebrated the naturalistic human form. This included representations of their gods, like this one, who appear as if living people, dressed like ordinary (elite) citizens. This suggests an intriguing, more personal relationship with the gods rather than the more abstract or magical portrayals of other contemporary societies. This head may have featured as the centerpiece of an altar inside a temple, where cult statues of deities served as focal points for worship. It may also have been part of a public display like the Severan-period Septizodium, the monumental fountain built to honor the imperial family and which had a three-story columnar façade decorated with portraits of various gods and goddesses.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-Dr. Angelo Bergamo collection, New Jersey, USA, acquired in the 1970s from Harmer Rooke Galleries, New York, USA
  
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  #146815

  Condition

  Small losses to edges of ears and beard, as well as to crest at top of helmet, with small repair to one edge of an ear. Tip of nose is also lost. Nice deposits on surface with small chips, scratches, and nicks commensurate with age. Overall very nice preservation of details and great patina.
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