108 - A WHITE MARBLE LIFESIZE HEAD OF A YOUTH, GREECE, LATE 4TH CENTURY BC

A WHITE MARBLE LIFESIZE HEAD OF A YOUTH, GREECE, LATE 4TH CENTURY BC Expert’s note Greek marble sculpture of the 4th–3rd centuries BC marks one of the great culminations of ancient portraiture, when the idealized beauty of the Classical tradition increasingly gave way to greater naturalism, individuality, and emotional presence. Marble heads of this period can possess an extraordinary immediacy, achieved through subtle modeling of the features, deeply set eyes, and a remarkably sensitive treatment of expression. The present head exemplifies this development, combining classical restraint with a distinctly individual presence. The exceptional sculptural quality of this period is further illustrated by the works cited in the literature comparison and auction result comparison below. Finely carved facing forward, with parted lips and prominent brow, his hair falling over the forehead in locks framing the heavy-lidded eyes, and with bow-shaped lips. Provenance: W.F. private collection, New York, acquired in the 1970s, and thence by descent. Condition: Good condition with expected wear, obvious losses, the nose with old chips, the face cleaned, few surface scratches, and small touchups along the brows and on cheeks. Weight: 8.1 kg (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 26.6 cm (excl. stand), 38.1 cm (incl. stand) Mounted to a modern stand. (2) Literature comparison: Compare a related marble head of a youth from a relief, Greek, dated late 4 th century BC, 33 cm tall, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 11.91.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 12 June 2017, lot 9 Price: GBP 43,750 or approx. EUR 70,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Greek marble relief head of youth, Attica, 3rd quarter of the 4th century B.C. Expert remark: Compare the closely related features. Note the size (17 cm). Also note that the head was once part of a relief.