ANTIQUITIES AND ISLAMIC ART SALE
Lot 58:
Description
A finely carved Roman marble statue of Cupid (Eros), dating from the High Imperial period, circa 2nd century A.D. The youthful deity is depicted standing in contrapposto, nude except for a naturalistic posture supported by a tree trunk. Though the head and arms are missing, the torso retains exceptional anatomical modelling, conveying both softness and divine vitality.
The statue rests on an integral square base, which features a well-preserved ancient Greek inscription, likely a dedicatory or votive message. The inscription adds significant scholarly and historical value, offering rare insight into the statue’s original context—possibly as a temple offering, public decoration, or funerary monument.
The composition, with its rounded form and lifelike body, closely echoes Hellenistic prototypes, notably those by Lysippos and his followers, but adapted through a Roman lens. The careful rendering of the musculature and naturalistic stance highlight the refined aesthetic sensibility of Roman sculptors working under Hadrianic or Antonine patronage.
H: 52cm, W: 23.5cm
Provenance: property of a Central London Gallery, acquired by a private collector, formerly in a private East Coast, USA collection; ex collection from Germany; ex-private Belgium collection, acquired in 1980s
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