105 - A FINE ROMAN BRONZE PROTOME OF MINERVA EMERGING FROM AN ACANTHUS LEAF, CIRCA 3RD CENTURY AD

A FINE ROMAN BRONZE PROTOME OF MINERVA EMERGING FROM AN ACANTHUS LEAF, CIRCA 3RD CENTURY AD Finely cast, depicting the bust of Minerva emerging from a deeply modeled acanthus leaf, the goddess wearing a crested helmet and cuirass. Her face is rendered with large almond-shaped eyes beneath gently arched brows, a straight nose, and full lips, framed by thick curling locks of hair. The shoulders are protected by a finely articulated lorica squamata, while an ornamental collar is centered by a prominent medallion bearing the mask of Medusa. Provenance: The private collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, Paris, by 1987, no. 106, and thence by descent. Christie’s Paris, 30 September 2003, lot 105 (mid-estimate EUR 11,000 or approx. EUR 16,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Tajan, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 29 October 2008, lot 275. A private collection in Europe, acquired from the above. Jacques (1909-1987) and Henriette (1911-2002) Schumann were prominent Parisian collectors and patrons whose interests ranged from Impressionist and modern painting to antiquities. Married in 1937, they spent their honeymoon travelling through Southeast Asia, including China and Vietnam, an experience that helped foster a lasting interest in Asian art and culture. The couple lived in Paris, in an apartment designed by Michel Roux-Spitz, where inherited paintings from the family were displayed alongside archaeological objects and other works they acquired themselves. During the Second World War, their Paris residence and the Château de la Chapelle-en-Serval were plundered by the Nazis and parts of the family collections were spoliated. After the war, Henriette undertook sustained efforts to recover the lost property. Jacques later became vice-president of the Friends of the Louvre, and together the couple continued to collect, travel, and support French museums. Following Jacques’s death in 1987, Henriette donated an important bust of Ramses II to the Louvre in his memory, which today welcomes visitors to the upper part of the Egyptian Antiquities department. In recognition of her generosity and longstanding support of French cultural institutions, she was subsequently awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Expected casting irregularities, obvious losses, warping, small nicks, rubbing, surface corrosion, and pitting, all as expected. Thick soil deposits to the back and additionally fitted with a loop cord attachment to secure to the associated stand. French Export License: Certificat d’exportation pour un bien culturel, no. 247659 dated 10 July 2024, has been granted. A copy accompanies this lot. Weight: 684 g (excl. stand), 1,408 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 17 cm (excl. stand), 23.2 cm (incl. stand) Mounted on a neatly fitted green marble stand. (2) Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 5 December 2012, lot 82 Price: USD 56,250 or approx. EUR 75,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Roman bronze bust of Minerva, circa late 1st-early 2nd century AD Expert remark: Compare the closely related depiction of Minerva wearing a crested helmet and scale armor, centered by the head of Medusa, as well as the closely related facial features and treatment of the hair. Note the earlier dating and larger size (23.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 9 December 2008, lot 141 Price: USD 6,250 or approx. EUR 8,600 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Roman bronze bust of Minerva, circa 1 st century AD Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and similar tunic, necklace, and hair. Note the smaller size (8.8 cm).