RARE ROMAN MARBLE RELIEF LEADS CHRISTIE’S AUCTION OF ANTIQUITIES

ArtDaily.org
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May 14 2010

NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announced the sale of Antiquities on June
10, which will offer over 150 lots with a stunning selection of Roman
marbles, Greek helmets and vases, and Egyptian art. The highlight of
the sale is a rare Roman marble relief from the Julio-Claudian period,
circa early 1st century A.D., that depicts the Emperor Tiberius
standing before a seated Genius with the goddess Concordia between
them as intermediary. This outstanding Imperial commission, perhaps
from an altar or other civic monument, is superbly sculpted in high
relief. Carved with great technical precision the relief combines
depth and perspective within the limited thickness of the marble slab.

The sculptor of the relief was an artist of importance and considerable
skill, one well acquainted with Classical and Hellenistic styles
of drapery.

Another notable work is a Roman bronze lamp stand, circa late 1st
century B.C. (estimate: $800,000-1,200,000). On the base of the lamp
stand is a figure of a youth, possibly depicting Alexander Helios,
son of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra VII, in the guise of an Armenian
prince with his high pyramidal headdress and eastern attire. This
piece compares to the famous bronze youths, one at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art and one at the Walters Art Museum.

The sale also presents a fine Egyptian Diorite Head of an Official,
Late Period, Dynasty XXX, 380-343 B.C. (estimate: $500,000-700,000).

This is a skillfully sculpted and superbly polished idealizing head,
part of a tradition that sought to imbue the individual with eternal
youth and vigor. The important official represented would only be
identifiable by the accompanying inscription, here lost. While a
number of these portrait heads are preserved in museum collections
in the U.S. and Europe, this example is rare to the market for its
quality and condition.

An Egyptian sandstone relief depicting the Pharaoh Ramesses II is also
featured in the sale, dated to his reign, 1290-1224 B.C. (estimate:
$100,000-150,000). Here Ramesses is portrayed offering a bolt of cloth
to a deity. It is likely from a column drum. The Pharaoh is wearing a
tunic and a short ibes wig with echeloned curls hanging over his ears.

Only the right arm and was-scepter of the god before him remains. Two
of Ramesses’ five names in cartouches are visible above, and red
pigment for Ramesses’ flesh is well preserved.

Additional highlights include an incredible Roman marble relief panel
from the Antonine Period, circa 160 A.D. (estimate: $400,000-600,000),
depicting a centauromachy with a panorama of a battle scene of nude
Greek warriors and centaurs, bearded half-equine beasts; a Greek bronze
helmet of Cretan type, circa 650-620 B.C. (estimate: $350,000-550,000),
distinguished by the high crest and carefully-incised mythological
scenes; and an elegant Attic red-figured neck amphora, circa 490-480
B.C. (estimate: $200,000-300,000), attributed to the Berlin Painter.