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96
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Fragmentary statue of Venus Pudica
Imperial Roman art, 1st-2…
See original version (French)
96
-
Fragmentary statue of Venus Pudica
Imperial Roman art, 1st-2…
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,500 - €2,500
Voluntary lot
Description
Fragmentary statue of Venus Pudica
Imperial Roman art, 1st-2nd century AD, after Hellenistic prototype
Fine-grained white marble, ochre-brown earthy concretions . Height 21.5 cm
Fragment of a statuette of Venus (Aphrodite) standing in the style of Venus pudica, the lower body wrapped in a tubular-folded himation slung from the left shoulder, leaning
on a draped caryatid serving both as a technical prop and a narrative figure. A cavity on the left flank corresponds to the tenon socket of an attached left arm, now lost. The reverse, which is not sculpted, indicates a work intended for a single frontal view (laraire, niche, wall light).
The iconographic type of Venus leaning on a caryatid is attested in late Hellenistic coroplasty.
coroplasty; two comparable figures from the Pottier-Reinach excavations at Myrina (1st c. BC - 1st c. AD) are in the Louvre, one of which - Aphrodite holding the apple
and leaning on a caryatid with modius (Myr 30, h. 21.2 cm) - offers a parallel of almost identical format and layout.
Fragmentary condition: the head, upper bust, right arm and left arm are missing. The feet. Clearly broken, without restoration.
Provenance: Former private collection from the South of France.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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