110 - A FINE MARBLE HEAD OF A BOY, ROMAN EMPIRE, AUGUSTAN TO JULIO-CLAUDIAN PERIOD, CIRCA 1ST CENTURY AD

A FINE MARBLE HEAD OF A BOY, ROMAN EMPIRE, AUGUSTAN TO JULIO-CLAUDIAN PERIOD, CIRCA 1ST CENTURY AD Exquisitely carved with striking naturalism, depicting a youthful child, his face marked by almond-shaped eyes bearing an attentive gaze, set beneath softly arched brows, a slender nose flanked by fleshy cheeks, and full lips forming a delicate smile. His hair is combed forward, the individual strands masterfully delineated, parting to either side at the center of the forehead and curling around his small ears and at the nape. Provenance: Marie Laforet, Geneva, Switzerland, 1980. Collection of Andrea Mori, Ascona, Switzerland, acquired from the above, and thence by descent. A copy of the signed invoice from Marie Laforet, dated 3 July 1980, addressed to Andrea Mori, in which the present lot is described as a “Greek marble head of a child”, accompanies this lot. Marie Laforet (1939-2019), born Maitena Marie Brigitte Douménach, first came to prominence as an actress in the early 1960s. She made her film debut opposite Alain Delon and Maurice Ronet in Plein Soleil (1960), directed by René Clément, followed by leading roles in La Fille aux yeux d’or (1961) and Le Rat d’Amérique (1962), both directed by Jean-Gabriel Albicocco. In parallel, she developed a highly successful recording career and, by the end of the decade, had become an established figure in French popular music. In the late 1970s, Laforet settled in Geneva, where she became closely involved with the art market. Introduced to its professional circles by the auctioneer and collector Pierre Cornette de Saint-Cyr, she opened an art gallery in the city and pursued her longstanding interest in works of art, antiques, and the auction trade. Condition: Very good condition, with expected wear, signs of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, old smooth chips. The stone with a fine, naturally grown patina. Weight: 3.9 kg (excl. stand), 5.9 kg (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 15.1 cm (excl. stand), 20.8 cm (incl. stand) With an associated marble stand. (2) The present head belongs to a characteristic category of Roman child portraiture developed during the Augustan and Julio-Claudian periods. During the first decades of the Empire, a distinctive approach to the representation of children emerged, particularly among affluent Roman families and, most prominently, within the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Wealthy families frequently commissioned portraits of their children that emulated those of the imperial household. Such portraits combined unmistakably youthful features, such as rounded cheeks, a small mouth, and a still softly developed jaw, with a restrained and idealized presentation markedly different from the pronounced realism characteristic of adult portraiture of the Republican period. The treatment of the hair is particularly significant in marble portraits of this type. The arrangement of locks across the forehead served as an important marker of fashion and chronology and, in certain instances, of dynastic association. Julio-Claudian child portraits frequently show short or moderately long hair combed forwards and carefully arranged into individual locks that part or form small, forked patterns above the forehead. At the same time, the intricate rendering of the hair provided sculptors with an opportunity to display their technical virtuosity and skill in naturalistic carving. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 8 June 2007, lot 157 Price: USD 16,800 or approx. EUR 23,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Roman marble head of a boy, circa late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and modeling, with analogous facial features and treatment of the hair. Note the similar size (19.7 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 2 April 2014, lot 98 Price: GBP 18,750 or approx. EUR 31,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Roman marble head of a young boy, circa early 3rd century AD Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of carving, and modeling, with analogous facial features and treatment of the hair. Note the later dating and larger size (31 cm). Due to length restriction on Drouot this entry is shortened. For full description please visit www.zacke.at.