Ancient Rome, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. Among the finest marble sculptures we have ever had the honor of handling, depicting an elegant draped torso of a goddess, her feminine figure standing in contrapposto with her right hip slightly lifted, suggesting forward movement as her weight shifts to her left leg. She wears a flowing peplos dress with countless folds of fabric clinging to her body, hugging every curve. The garment appears to be fastened at her left shoulder, and gathers at a tie around the dropped waist, with fabric fastened by round pins or brooches just below her abdomen. A himation drapes gracefully over her left arm. The technical skill of this sculptor was paramount. Indeed the artist who created this piece clearly possessed the expertise required to turn stone to fabric and flesh! Size: 23.625" H (60 cm); 31" H (78.7 cm) on included custom stand.

The sculptor's ability to capture the goddess in contrapposto, implying a rhythmic sense of motion, as her weight is shifted onto her left leg and her right leg advances, conjures a quality of human vitality in this sculpture. Such calculated poses were inspired by the works of Polykleitos and became the model to which sculptors aspired in Graeco-Roman as well as later Western European art. Although no particular attributes of this figure are visible, the fine level of technique and artistry displayed in this piece suggests that it depicted a goddess - perhaps Venus (Aphrodite in the Greek pantheon), the goddess of romantic love, who magically rose from the sea on a giant scallop shell - or Fortuna (Tyche in the Greek pantheon) whose name literally means "fortune" as she is associated with both bona (good) and mala (bad) fortune, chance, and luck - or Diana (Artemis in the Greek pantheon), the goddess of hunting and the moon. Regardless of her identity, any goddess would have been proud to have such a stunning portrayal dedicated to her. A masterfully realized figure presenting a convincing naturalistic pose implying lifelike movement as well as exceptional modeling of her body and garment.

A Roman marble torso of Venus (only 14.25" high) sold at Christie's New York for $56,250 in Sale 12257 Antiquities, lot 105; 25 October 2016. Another marble torso of Venus (22.125" high) sold at Christie's New York for $732,500 in Sale 14356 Antiquities, lot 41; 25 October 2017.

Provenance: private Szurleys collection, Polson, Montana, USA, acquired at auction; ex-Gertrude Pearson collection, acquired by descent from grandmother Lena Pearson, who imported into the United States in the early 1920's. A signed letter of acquisition history from previous owner will be provided upon purchase.

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#130040

A large section with old losses as shown. Nicks to the peripheries as shown. Rootmarked surface. Among the finest works of Roman sculpture we have ever worked with.