Southern Netherlandish, first half of the 17th century
Southern Netherlandish, first half of the 17th century
Pair of busts of Julius Caesar and Augustus
alabaster, on dark grey veined marble socles
the socles inscribed: JULIUS / CAESAR and: OCTAV / AUGUST
Augustus: 48.5cm. 19⅛in.
Julius Caesar: 50cm., 19¾in.
socles: 12.5cm., 4⅞in. each
(2)
Catalogue Note:
The play of polychromatic contrasts between alabaster and dark grey marble in the present busts recalls works produced in the Southern Netherlands from the last quarter of the 16th century and throughout the 17th century, as well as their wider influence across Northern Europe.
The highly graphic treatment of the facial features, the realistic rendering of the veins, particularly visible on Augustus’s neck, the ornamental exuberance, especially evident on Julius Caesar’s cuirass, and the broad laurel wreaths crowning their heads all seem to derive from prints rather than from direct observation of antique models. The distinctive style of these two busts of Roman emperors may be compared in particular with the series of the Twelve Caesars engraved by Raffaello Schiaminossi around 1610-1640. Two prints from this series provide relevant examples, one depicting Julius Caesar and the other Galba, both held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. 51.501.4997 and 51.501.5003).
Provenance:
Private collection, Milan;
Private collection, Prague.
Southern Netherlandish, first half of the 17th century
Pair of busts of Julius Caesar and Augustus
alabaster, on dark grey veined marble socles
the socles inscribed: JULIUS / CAESAR and: OCTAV / AUGUST
Augustus: 48.5cm. 19⅛in.
Julius Caesar: 50cm., 19¾in.
socles: 12.5cm., 4⅞in. each
(2)
Catalogue Note:
The play of polychromatic contrasts between alabaster and dark grey marble in the present busts recalls works produced in the Southern Netherlands from the last quarter of the 16th century and throughout the 17th century, as well as their wider influence across Northern Europe.
The highly graphic treatment of the facial features, the realistic rendering of the veins, particularly visible on Augustus’s neck, the ornamental exuberance, especially evident on Julius Caesar’s cuirass, and the broad laurel wreaths crowning their heads all seem to derive from prints rather than from direct observation of antique models. The distinctive style of these two busts of Roman emperors may be compared in particular with the series of the Twelve Caesars engraved by Raffaello Schiaminossi around 1610-1640. Two prints from this series provide relevant examples, one depicting Julius Caesar and the other Galba, both held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. 51.501.4997 and 51.501.5003).
Provenance:
Private collection, Milan;
Private collection, Prague.
