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Premium Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo
11
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KORE DRAPE White marble with patina
H.
See original version (French)
11
-
KORE DRAPE White marble with patina
H.
See original version (French)
Estimate €45,000 - €50,000
Voluntary lot
Description
KORE DRAPE
White marble with patina
H. 76 cm (without plinth)
Roman art, 2nd century, after a Greek original from the late 5th century BC.
Provenance
Former French collection, assembled in the 1960s
Ex Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo, 28 November 2015 (estimated €30,000 / €40,000, sold for €70,000 excluding fees)
Private collection of Mr S., ever since
Accompanied by its Cultural Property Certificate
Depicted in a frontal pose, the figure rests on her left leg, whilst her right leg is bent, creating a slight contrapposto in the torso.
The figure is clad in a peplos of skilfully crafted design: the neckline plunges into a succession of naturalistic folds that hint at the navel beneath the fabric; below the hips, a crinkled, puffed pleat falls in an increasingly rigid manner towards the feet (now missing). The right arm is free, whilst the left supports a himation (cloak), also characterised by ample, meticulously worked pleats.
This composition, together with this highly distinctive treatment of the clothing, places this work within the tradition of Roman copies inspired by the famous Korai (Caryatids) of the Erechtheion in Athens (c. 420–410 BC), and in particular the two central figures of the Erechtheion portico.
The uniqueness of these copies lies in the reinterpretation carried out by the Roman copyists, who probably did not have the opportunity to observe the original Korai in their entirety. Indeed, the way in which the himation appears to cover the peplos at the front, draping over the left arm, differs from the original sculptures, where the peplos and the himation remain two distinct elements simply superimposed on the statues’ backs. The two best-known groups of copies, dating from the Augustan and Hadrianic periods respectively, were themselves identified by modern archaeologists as having been inspired by earlier copies of the two central Korai of the Erechtheion.
The surface of the marble is smooth, and the folds are carved in a more linear manner, running parallel to one another.
For comparable examples, see BIEBER, M., *Ancient Copies: Contributions to the History of Greek and Roman Art*, 1977, pl. 8.
A Roman Marble Drapery of a Kore, after a Greek Original. Presented in a frontal view, the figure stands with the left leg bearing her weight whilst the right is bent, creating a subtle contrapposto in the torso.
The figure is draped in an elaborately structured peplos: the neckline descends into a succession of naturalistic folds that reveal the navel beneath the fabric; below the pelvis, a gathered and bloused fold falls in an increasingly rigid manner towards the feet (now missing). The right arm is exposed, whilst the left arm supports a himation, itself characterised by substantial and meticulously rendered pleating.
This compositional arrangement and highly distinctive drapery style place this work within the tradition of Roman copies derived from the celebrated Korai (Caryatids) of the Erechtheion in Athens (c. 420–410 BCE), particularly the two central figures on the Erechtheion’s portico.The uniqueness of these copies lies in the Roman copyists’ reinterpretation, as they likely did not have the opportunity to observe the original Korai in their entirety. Indeed, the way in which the himation appears to drape over the peplos at the front, cascading over the left arm, differs from the original sculptures, where the peplos and himation remain distinct elements simply superimposed at the back of the statues. The two most renowned groups of copies, dating from the Augustan and Hadrianic periods respectively, were themselves identified by modern archaeologists as having been inspired by earlier copies of the two central Korai of the Erechtheion.
The marble surface is smooth, with folds carved in a more linear and parallel fashion in relation to one another.
For comparable examples, see BIEBER, M., *Ancient Copies: Contributions to the History of Greek and Roman Art*, 1977, pl. 8.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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