Roman Marble Sarcophagus Relief Panel - Nude Male

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A skillfully carved marble relief panel fragment from a Roman sarcophagus depicting a nude male, perhaps Apollo or another Olympian god. His head is turned toward his right, looking over his shoulder, and presents a handsome visage with skillfully delineated delicate features crowned by a wavy coiffure with long locks adorned by a wreath or diadem atop his head and long tendrils cascading past his shoulders. His muscular physique is beautifully rendered with well-defined pectorals and abdominals around his navel, and delineated genitalia between his legs. Size: 3.625" W x 6.2" H (9.2 cm x 15.7 cm)

This Roman sculpture clearly aspired to an earlier Greek tradition that was not interested in veristic representations of age or individualized features. Instead, the emphasis was on an ideal image of perfect anatomy. This said, while not necessarily aiming for realism, the sculptor did strive to convey naturalism. Note the harmonious proportions of head to body, arm to torso, as well as the meticulous detailing of the hair, eyes, nose, etc. These are all believable to our eyes - although free of any imperfections and hence idealized. While realism depicts the world as it actually is, naturalism in the Classical sense presented a possible world - free of blemishes and full of beauty.

Prior to the 2nd century, Romans cremated their dead; around that time, inspired by the Greek and Etruscan practice of using sarcophagi, they began to place the deceased in sarcophagi. This trend spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire and continued into the Byzantine period. In the western part of the Empire, sarcophagi were placed inside a mausoleum against a wall or in a niche, so the only decorated panels were on the front and the short sides. This section of a panel probably came from the grave of an elite citizen.

Provenance: ex-Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000

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#160130
Condition Report: A fragment of a sarcophagus panel with losses to peripheries as shown. Normal surface wear with abrasions to high-pointed areas and some softening of features. Surface is also graced with deposits.