A Roman marble gravestone of a venator, 3rd century A.D.
A Roman marble gravestone of a venator, 3rd century A.D.Apart from minimal spalling the gravestone of a man-at-arms completely preserved, in white marble, covered in brownish sinter. His dress, hair and style suggest that it originates from the provinces of the Mediterranean region of Asia Minor. The lateral pilasters with an undulating tendril, above which an arch with palm trees at the sides und centre top, forming an aedicula, in which the portrayed figure stands at the front. At the base the epitaph "(tr). Menophilos in memory of his most dearly beloved brother Trophimos" inscribed in Greek. His hair falling in abundant curls, the man wears a tunic with numerous appliquéd strips of material, a length of cloth draped above his right knee that is difficult to interpret. A short lance with barbed point in his right hand. A balteus (sword belt) draped over his shoulder, with characteristic fittings (phalera and tongue piece), from which a sword is suspended. Behind which a small, presumably circular, shield can be seen with pendent linear ornaments. His left hand holding a second sword. His footwear sculpted without definition or intricate detail. Although his attire includes military elements, it does not signify clearly that the man was a soldier. His hairstyle is non-military. His garments are not consistent with traditional military dress, appearing excessively sumptuous, probably with colourful embellishments. Inter alia, he wears neither a typical soldier's cloak (sagum) nor a soldier's belt. The same applies to his weaponry; his lance is far too short and he bears an unusual combination of arms. On the other hand, the sculptor was able to portray certain details of his attire that have a military aspect, like the sword belt, with great accuracy. Nevertheless, the man is obviously not a soldier. One solution to the difficulty of interpreting the figure is that he may have been a "venator", a professional hunter who took part in spectacles in the arena involving animal fights. As the weaponry and attire of these professional fighters have been recorded, this is conceivable, especially the lance with the barbed point and the picturesque appearance of his hairstyle and dress. The fact that his dress is adapted to that of contemporary, 3rd century soldiers presumably represents an attempt to lend the professional fighter, who took part in public spectacles in the arena and whose social status was relatively ambivalent, varying from stardom to contempt, some of the social prestige of the fully established, highly respected soldier. Height without pedestal 81 cm, width 46 cm, depth 6 cm. Weight including pedestal 49.5 kg. Includes an extract from the Art Loss Register and an English-language expertise prepared by J.C.N. Coulston, a leading specialist for Roman Army studies in England.Provenance: English private collection, acquired by the seller's father in 1968 on the art market in London and inherited from the collection.Condition: II +
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A Roman marble gravestone of a venator, 3rd century A.D.Apart from minimal spalling the gravestone of a man-at-arms completely preserved, in white marble, covered in brownish sinter. His dress, hair and style suggest that it originates from the provinces of the Mediterranean region of Asia Minor. The lateral pilasters with an undulating tendril, above which an arch with palm trees at the sides und centre top, forming an aedicula, in which the portrayed figure stands at the front. At the base the epitaph "(tr). Menophilos in memory of his most dearly beloved brother Trophimos" inscribed in Greek. His hair falling in abundant curls, the man wears a tunic with numerous appliquéd strips of material, a length of cloth draped above his right knee that is difficult to interpret. A short lance with barbed point in his right hand. A balteus (sword belt) draped over his shoulder, with characteristic fittings (phalera and tongue piece), from which a sword is suspended. Behind which a small, presumably circular, shield can be seen with pendent linear ornaments. His left hand holding a second sword. His footwear sculpted without definition or intricate detail. Although his attire includes military elements, it does not signify clearly that the man was a soldier. His hairstyle is non-military. His garments are not consistent with traditional military dress, appearing excessively sumptuous, probably with colourful embellishments. Inter alia, he wears neither a typical soldier's cloak (sagum) nor a soldier's belt. The same applies to his weaponry; his lance is far too short and he bears an unusual combination of arms. On the other hand, the sculptor was able to portray certain details of his attire that have a military aspect, like the sword belt, with great accuracy. Nevertheless, the man is obviously not a soldier. One solution to the difficulty of interpreting the figure is that he may have been a "venator", a professional hunter who took part in spectacles in the arena involving animal fights. As the weaponry and attire of these professional fighters have been recorded, this is conceivable, especially the lance with the barbed point and the picturesque appearance of his hairstyle and dress. The fact that his dress is adapted to that of contemporary, 3rd century soldiers presumably represents an attempt to lend the professional fighter, who took part in public spectacles in the arena and whose social status was relatively ambivalent, varying from stardom to contempt, some of the social prestige of the fully established, highly respected soldier. Height without pedestal 81 cm, width 46 cm, depth 6 cm. Weight including pedestal 49.5 kg. Includes an extract from the Art Loss Register and an English-language expertise prepared by J.C.N. Coulston, a leading specialist for Roman Army studies in England.Provenance: English private collection, acquired by the seller's father in 1968 on the art market in London and inherited from the collection.Condition: II +
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