Marble Head of Apollo Lyceus

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st-2nd century A.D.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 25 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3256

Provenance: Swiss private collection, acquired in 1978. Thence in an English auction house.

Condition: On the upper lip, the left brow and the left cheek small restorations. Tip of the nose worn. But in total a head of Apollo of exquisite quality.

Description: Finely worked, almost life-size marble head of Apollo with oval face. The head bent to the right, the eyes with thick eye lids, in the inner corners of the eyes deeply drilled. An expression of particular placidity, the mouth with his full lips slightly open. The hair parted in the centre cascading in thick curls sideways over the temples and pulled up with a fillet, which falls in the neck as a bound bow. Sideways behind the ears two drills. The style of head posture, the missing elaboration of the hair on the calotte and a small break on the upper left part of the head could suggest that the right arm of the statue once lay over the head. An attribution as Apollo Lyceus, following the model of Praxiteles dating to the 4th century B.C., is therefore very likely. Mounted.