A Roman Marble Figure of a Philosopher or Man of Letters, circa 2nd Century A.D.

A Roman Marble Figure of a Philosopher or Man of Letters
circa 2nd Century A.D.

standing with the weight on his right leg, the left leg slightly advanced, and wearing calcei, tunic, and mantle draped over the left shoulder, wrapped around the body, and falling from the left lower arm, both hands holding a scroll; hands and scrollrestored, former restorations removed.
Total height 79 cm.; height without plinth 74 cm.

Condition Report:
Repaired across front center of base, proper left ankle, and bottom of mantle; break filled and hidden with plaster; left ankle restored in plaster. Proper right foot in one piece with body. Bottom of mantle folds, a single fold above, and one fold above proper right foot formerly restored in marble, then in plaster. Both hands with scroll restored in marble (chipped around edges). Head with neck formerly restored in marble using what appears to be ancient head of bearded god in Reinach drawing. Hole in neck for iron pin now filled in. Surface repolished as usual for restored marbles of this type. Most small chips and losses have been smoothed over. Minor nicks and abrasions remaining. Big toes chipped. Bottom of base uneven, straightened in back using cement to make figure stand more upright.

Provenance:
European private collection, 18th/19th Century (based on restoration techniques)

Edouard Geladakis, Paris, 1912

Belgian private collection

Rob Michiels Auctions, Bruges, March 14th 2021, no. 1111, illus.

acquired by the present owner at the above sale

Published

Salomon Reinach, Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine, vol. 5, Paris, 1924, p. 352, no. 4 ("chez Geladakis à Paris en 1912. Phot. Espérandieu. Philosophe?").