FRAGMENTARY HEAD OF A BEARDED MAN Greece, 1st - 3rd century B.C. Marble with important concretions on the whole surface H. 22 cm Provenance Former collection of Dr. W.S., Germany, 1970 English private collection This face, sculpted in the round (fragmentary), is characterized by idealized features - the eyes with hemmed lids are wide open and covered by a bulging brow bone, whose high, slightly drooping eyelid lends a certain gravity to the look. The missing nose was short and thin. The sensually sculpted mouth has a very fleshy lower lip, while the upper lip is covered by a short mustache joining a beard with wavy strands. The general ensemble, although incomplete, is of very high quality. The style and facial features are reminiscent of certain heroic and divine representations of late-classical Greek productions. A close example, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of New York, inv. 26.60.46, represents a marble head of the king of the gods, Zeus (fig.1) A greek late classical or early hellenistic marble head of a bearded man. This face sculpted in the round (fragmentary), is characterized by idealized features - the eyes with the rimmed lids are wide open and covered by a domed browbone, whose high eyelid, slightly drooping, brings a certain gravity to the gaze. The missing nose was short and thin. The mouth sculpted with a lot of sensuality to a very fleshy lower lip while the upper lip is covered by a short mustache joining a beard provided with wavy locks. The general ensemble, although incomplete, is of very high quality. Ca. 4th - 3rdcentury B.C. The style as well as the facial features refer to certain heroic and divine representations of late-classical Greek productions. A close example kept at the Metropolitan Museum in NY, inv. 26.60.46, representing a marble head of the king of the gods, Zeus (fig. 1)