A ROMAN MARBLE BUST OF A MAN DRESSED IN AN IMPERIAL TOGA, CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY AD

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A ROMAN MARBLE BUST OF A MAN DRESSED IN AN IMPERIAL TOGA, CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY AD This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve The Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger, entry from 2005: “No. 558, OK, HH 1998, Roman marble Toga dressed breast, 2nd c. AD, ca. 22 cm h.” Gallery price: EUR 5,350 or approx. EUR 8,900 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. Finely carved, enveloped in a heavy cloak draped around the upper body, its thick folds falling broadly over the shoulders and framing a strong neck, above a thinner underlying garment rendered with naturally flowing, delicately detailed pleats. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 22 cm (excl. base) and 33 cm (incl. base) The bust is raised on a well carved associated marble pedestal base of classic form, dating from the Grand Tour era, circa 18th century or earlier. (2) Derived from an ancient tradition of making funerary effigies, portrait sculptures were one of the greatest artistic achievements of the Roman Empire. Each sculpture was placed upon togated shoulders or torso which was often representative of their position in life. The toga was the distinctive dress of the Roman citizen when appearing in public. Its use was forbidden to exiles and to foreigners. It was indispensable on all official occasions, even in Imperial times when more convenient garments had been adopted for ordinary use. It consisted of a white woolen cloth of semi-circular cut about five yards long by four wide, a certain portion of which was pressed into long narrow plaits. The broad folds in which it hung over were gathered together on the left shoulder and the part which crossed the breast diagonally was deep enough to serve as a pocket for small articles. The color of the toga as worn by men was white, a dark brown or black colored toga was only worn by the lower classes or in time of mourning. A purple stripe woven into the cloth in Imperial times was the distinctive mark of the emperors as well as the state priests when engaged in performing their functions. It was known as the ‘Toga Praetexta’, and another garment adorned with golden stars was known as the ‘Toga Picta’ and this was worn by magistrates giving public games, by triumphant victorious generals and by the Imperial emperors on festal occasions. See a closely related Roman marble shoulders from a portrait bust of a man dressed in an imperial toga, dated 2nd-3rd century, 48 cm high, at Finch and Co., London. Literature comparison: Compare a related bust of Emperor Hadrian, dated circa 137-138 AD, 37.2 cm high, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, inventory number 4810. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 17 February 2011, lot 409 Price: EUR 7,500 or approx. EUR 9,600 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar pleated toga. Note the identical size (33 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 17 October 2023, lot 556 Price: USD 47,880 or approx. EUR 45,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of carving. Note the closely related size (34 cm).

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