Lot 78
78
THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
A ROMAN BRONZE PORTRAIT BUST OF THE EMPEROR GAIUS CAESAR, CALLED CALIGULA, with traces of gilding, shown with head turned to his right, wearing drapery clasped on the left shoulder, the bust emerging from three leaves at the base, depicted with short wavy hair, with locks swept forwards at the front and arranged in a Julio-Claudian 'starfish' whorl at the back, with broad forehead, narrow chin and pinched mouth, eyebrows lightly incised, the close set eyes open for inlay (now missing), remains of gilding on the breast, lips and left ear, repaired, mounted, circa 37-41 A.D.

Details
A ROMAN BRONZE PORTRAIT BUST OF THE EMPEROR GAIUS CAESAR, CALLED CALIGULA, with traces of gilding, shown with head turned to his right, wearing drapery clasped on the left shoulder, the bust emerging from three leaves at the base, depicted with short wavy hair, with locks swept forwards at the front and arranged in a Julio-Claudian 'starfish' whorl at the back, with broad forehead, narrow chin and pinched mouth, eyebrows lightly incised, the close set eyes open for inlay (now missing), remains of gilding on the breast, lips and left ear, repaired, mounted, circa 37-41 A.D.
7 7/8in. (20cm.) high
Provenance
Reputedly found in the Tiber, Rome

Schinz-Rüesch collection; and by descent to the present owner
Exhibited
Historisches Museum, Berne, Switzerland, 6 November 1982 - 6 February 1983

Lot Essay

PUBLISHED:
Exhibition catalogue: Gesichter-Griechische und römische Bildnisse aus Schweizer Besitz, Historisches Museum, Berne, 1982, p. 257, no. 116; B. Andreae, Römische Kunst, 1973, 140, Abb. 50

Relatively few portraits survive of Caligula; many of his monuments were destroyed after his assassination in 41 A.D. Cf. Gaius 'Caligula' marble portrait busts in V. Poulsen, Les Portraits Romains, I, République et dynastie Julienne, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, 1962, p. 67, pls. XC and XCI, no.54; and J. Frel, Roman Portraits in the Getty Museum, Philbrook Art Center and The J. Paul Getty Museum, 1981, pp. 38-39, no. 24

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