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marble head of a woman with curly hair on a black standmarble head of a woman with curly hair on a black standmarble head of a man on a marble basesculpture of a rock on a wooden base against a white backgroundan ancient head of a man on a black standmarble head of a woman with curly hair on a black stand
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19 - PORTRAIT OF JULIA MAMMEA (c. 180 – 235) White marble.
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Estimate €5,000 - €8,000
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Description
PORTRAIT OF JULIA MAMMEA (c. 180 – 235) White marble. Height: 24.5 cm Roman art, first quarter of the 3rd century AD. Provenance In a French private collection since the 1960s, formerly in the collection of a fashion designer. A life-size portrait of a matron from the late Severan period, displaying the features traditionally associated with Julia Mamaea, mother of Emperor Severus Alexander (222–235 AD). The face is oval in shape; only the gaze is directed upwards to the right. The pupils are clearly pierced, and the lips form a restrained, almost introspective smile. The hairstyle corresponds to the so-called ‘helmet-style’ hairstyle, characteristic of the middle and late Severan periods: the hair is parted in the middle and arranged in regular waves; on either side, four broad wave-like troughs extend to the ears and converge towards the crown of the head. The unfinished nature of the reverse and certain surface details may suggest that the portrait was never fully completed, perhaps having been commissioned shortly before the assassination of Julia Mamaea in 235 AD. Julia Avita Mamaea (died 235 AD) was one of the most powerful figures of the Severan dynasty. The daughter of Julia Maesa and niece of Julia Domna, from the priestly family of Emesa, she was the mother of Severus Alexander, who was brought to power in 222 following the fall of Elagabalus. During her son’s reign, whilst he was still a teenager, she exercised de facto power and was granted the title of mater Augusti et castrorum et senatus et patriae. Renowned for her administrative prudence, she surrounded the throne with eminent jurists and took a close interest in her son’s education, which earned her both praise and accusations of avarice and overbearing influence; Christian tradition, as recorded by Eusebius, attributes to her a conversation with Origen, a sign of her intellectual curiosity. She perished alongside Severus Alexander in 235 near Mogontiacum (Mainz), massacred by mutinous soldiers who proclaimed Maximinus Thrax, bringing the Severan dynasty to an end. Her effigy, featured on a large number of coins from Augusta and in a series of sculpted portraits, is recognisable by the Severan hairstyle with waves swept back. Similar unfinished portraits are known to exist, notably a related example recorded in the Arachne database of the Deutsche Archäologische Institut (Arachne ID 1115823). A Roman marble portrait of Julia Mammea. 1st quarter of the 3rd century AD.
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About the sale FROM CAESAR TO CAESAR
Auction location
Auction time 07/08/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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