Skulpturen, Kunsthandwerk, Silber, Golddosen, Juwelen

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OVERSIZE MARBLE TORSO OF THE “ARES BORGHESE” TYPE Height: 117 cm. Length: 65 cm. Depth: 35 cm. Base: 30 x 75 x 55 cm. Cross mark of the Proto-Byzantine Period. 1st/ 2nd century AD. White marble; amber patina in shades of light orange to grey-brown. This statue of a torso depicts a naked young man, his (lost) head inclined to the right. The figure is standing in contrapposto with its weight on the left leg with a lateral pelvic tilt while the right leg is placed slightly in front. By contrast the upper body is very muscular and idealized. Remains of struts on the right thigh and the back of the left thigh possibly indicate that the sculpture was once part of a figural group or they may be structural supports due to the former proportions of the upper half of the body. A cross is engraved on the right of the abdomen. The torso is an interpretation of the “Ares Borghese” type, a classical inspired Roman creation, which can be considered the most complete replica of the idol created by Alcamenes – an ancient Greek sculptor of the Early Classical Period and student of Phidias – for the Ares Temple on the Agora in Athens. The bestknown copy is held at the Louvre (inv. MA 86). On the other hand, the strictly anatomical posture reveals a strong influence by the Canon of Polykleitos, featuring anatomical elements of his famous Doryphoros sculpture. The square proportions, broad pectoral muscles, pronounced lines of the abdominal muscles and the contraction of the oblique muscles on the hips are similar in this respect. The cross-shaped mark on the abdomen is a sign for the mutilation of pagan statues by Christians during the Proto-Byzantine Period of the 4th century, particularly in Egypt and Asia Minor. Emperor Constantine, in particular, did not hesitate to plunder famous sanctuaries. Restored. Notes: Niels Hannestad published an article regarding the handling of pagan art by Christians in 1999. Literature: For comparison regarding the handling of pagan statues in late antiquity, see: Niels Hannestad, “How Did Rising Christianity Cope with Pagan Sculpture?” in: E. Chrysos & I. Wood (ed.), East and West: Modes of Communication. Proceedings of the First Plenary Conference at Mérida, Leiden 1999, pp. 173-203. Provenance: Privat collection Bochniewski, Poland. Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo, 30 April 2016, lot 252. INFO | BIETEN € 150.000 - € 300.000 Sistrix Translate all texts into your preferred language on our homepage via Google: www.hampel-auctions.com 15