LOT 0137

Roman Marble Head of the Emperor Tiberius

2ND CENTURY A.D.

13 1/2 in. (11.5 kg, 34.5 cm).

Finely carved portrait head of a youthful, beardless male, characterised by short, softly modelled wavy locks, carefully defined eyes, and full lips; mounted on an antique white marble base.

Private collection, South of France, formed between 1930 and 1960.
with Galerie Saint-Honoré, Cannes, 1997.
Bonnaz & Lecomte, Hôtel des Ventes Méditerranée, Marseille, 29 July 2018, lot 215.
Artcurial, 29 April 2021, lot 89.
Private collection, France, 2022.

Accompanied by a printed copy of the Spanish cultural export licence no.1775-3178156.
Accompanied by a copy of a French passport, no.228557.
Accompanied by a copy of the Galerie Saint-Honore invoice, 9 July 1997.
Accompanied by copies of the relevant Artcurial catalogue pages.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Marina Mattei.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13458-260919.

Cf. Musée de l’Ermitage, Le portrait Romain, Album et catalogue illustré de toute la collection, Leningrad, 1974, plates XIV-XV, for a similar portrait of Tiberius.

The features display a restrained classicism and a composed expression typical of Roman Imperial portraiture inspired by earlier Julio-Claudian prototypes. The physiognomy and hairstyle closely relate to established portraits of Tiberius, suggesting a possible identification, although the work may represent an idealised or later reinterpretation of the imperial type.