Greek Early Hellenistic Marble Bust of a Youth

**Originally Listed At $1200**

Northern Africa, modern-day Libya, Cyrene, early Hellenistic Period, ca. 4th to 3rd century BCE. A stunning bust, carved from pale yellow marble, depicting a youthful figure which was once part of a larger sculpture. The bust presents with piercing almond-shaped eyes set beneath gentle lids, curving brows which taper inward to form the slender nose, naturalistic lips with a grooved philtrum, and a shapely chin, all beneath a neatly-organized plaited coiffure. Shallow grooves along the chest are indicative of finery like necklaces or pendants, and thick garment straps wrap around the top of each shoulder. A fabulous sculpture to be revered for its veristic and even emotive presentation as was characteristic of the Hellenistic period. Size: 3.9" W x 6.875" H (9.9 cm x 17.5 cm); 8.375" H (21.3 cm) on included custom stand.

The arts prospered during the Hellenistic period when kings took pride in being patrons of the arts and commissioned public art as well as private luxury pieces to demonstrate their elite taste and wealth. One of the most fascinating aspects of the Hellenistic milieu was that artists were commissioned to portray rather unorthodox subjects, including those of the working class, the elderly, children of all ages, and ethnic phenotypes.

A stylistically-similar example of a smaller size hammered for EUR 20,000 ($22,437.60) at Christie's, Paris "Archeologie: Collection Pierre et Claude Verite" auction (sale 1063, December 20, 2011, lot 112): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/tete-en-marbre-grece-epoque-hellenistique-ci-5523070-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5523070&sid=14227f49-cd18-4dc7-8439-b7be49ecd99b

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired in the 1960s

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#144183
Condition Report: This is a portion of a larger sculpture. Small losses to coiffure, nose, chin, and areas of neck line, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout.