Items Similar to Roman Sculpture Portrait Emperor Vitellius Rosso Antico Marble 19th Century
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9
UnknownRoman Sculpture Portrait Emperor Vitellius Rosso Antico Marble 19th Century
$21,496.46
£15,895.97
€18,000
CA$29,527.48
A$32,832.86
CHF 17,188.59
MX$401,059.51
NOK 215,991.62
SEK 203,183.41
DKK 137,056.14
About the Item
An important artistic sculptural portrait created by a master Italian sculptor, specifically from the Roman sphere, in the 19th century, depicting the Roman Emperor Vitellius.
The Rosso Antico marble head is mounted on a square base of white and gray marble with purple and yellow veins, with a central metal pin. The sculpture depicts the emperor in the prime of his life, with a stern and dignified expression, thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a pronounced jaw. The head is sculpted with detailed hair in classical Roman style, featuring individual, well-defined locks; the eyes are sculpted without pupils and have drooping eyelids, thin lips, and a prominent chin. These features in portraits produced during the imperial era were an expression of a new realistic trend and helped define the sitter as a man of great experience: the crow's feet wrinkles expressed experience, while the tense muscles on the forehead indicated concentration and determination.
In this portrait, the wrinkles on Vitellius's face have been translated into folds that ripple the surface of the marble, highlighted by the reflections of light, expressing his personality as in ancient models. The folds of the skin and the relief of the tendons are enhanced by the natural veining of the marble, which accentuates them in a highly graphic manner on the neck. The block of Rosso Antico marble, carefully selected by the master sculptor to create the sculpture, has a reddish-brown color with subtle variations in tone, reaching a grayish hue typical of this important and ancient material, which enhance its characteristics, preciousness, and uniqueness.
Aulus Vitellius was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius became emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vitellius added the honorific Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession attempted to rally public support to his cause.
The Rosso antico (Latin: marmor taenarium) was a colored marble used sporadically in the Minoan and Mycenaean eras (it appears in the decoration of the Gate of the Treasury of Atreus in Mycenae) and became widespread in the Roman era, from the end of the 2nd century BC (in Rome from the time of Caesar) until the Byzantine era.
It is red in color, with various shades, from pink to blood red to purple, sometimes with thin black veins or with white or gray spots of varying sizes. Variants feature perfectly parallel white bands, straight or wavy. The color is caused by the hematite content.
The quarries, close to the sea, are located on the promontory of Cape Matapan (formerly Cape Tenaro) in the Peloponnese.
It was widely exported in Roman times (appearing in Palmyra and Britain) and was primarily used for sculptures.
- Dimensions:Height: 21.66 in (55 cm)Width: 9.85 in (25 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Roma, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1350116746692
About the Seller
4.9
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
Established in 1998
1stDibs seller since 2020
97 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Roma, Italy
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllSculpture Figurative White Marble Portrait of a Sylenus Classical Greek 19th
Located in Roma, IT
A portrait of a Silenus, ( also know as satyr) carved in white marble probably in central Italy in the 19th Century.
The head despite a man with long hears in equine style with also ...
Category
19th Century Other Art Style Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
A large Italian Carved Africano And Giallo Antico Marble Tazza Roman Ambit 18th
Located in Roma, IT
African marble stand resting on a pedestal in antique yellow marble. The elliptical basin model decorated with radial grooves from the center outwards and with pods on the upper edge...
Category
18th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
$16,719 Sale Price
30% Off
Free Shipping
Polychrome Marble Sculpture Portrait Emperor Marcus Aurelius Italian 19th
Located in Roma, IT
A portrait head of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, carved in Carrara marble, with deeply cut curls and detailed classical roman accents in the hair and in the shave; the carefull...
Category
19th Century Other Art Style Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
$7,165 Sale Price
20% Off
Free Shipping
Antonio Canova (After) Marble Sculpture Of Venus Italica Uffizi Museum 19th
By Antonio Canova
Located in Roma, IT
a superb scale size of the Venere italica, the famous and notable sculpture carved by Antonio Canova in the 19th century. At the top of his notability and influence the King Ludovico...
Category
19th Century Other Art Style Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
$27,587 Sale Price
30% Off
Antonio Canova Ebe Aprés Ebe White Marble Sculpture 19th Century Italian
By Antonio Canova
Located in Roma, IT
An important grand tour Antonio Canova Ebe (Aprés), carved in white marble by an Italian sculptor artist in the 19th century from a block of white marble.
The work depicts the go...
Category
19th Century Other Art Style Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
$29,259 Sale Price
30% Off
Sculpture of Lion "Marzocco" Green Marble Grand Tour Italian Florence 20th
Located in Roma, IT
Carved in the green marble know as verde prato, by a Florentine sculptor of the XX century this grand tour version of the Leone "Marzocco" is an exquisite example of elegance and her...
Category
20th Century Other Art Style Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
You May Also Like
Man with Flute and Cougar, American 19th/20th century bronze w/ marble base
By Edwin Willard Deming
Located in Beachwood, OH
Edwin Willard Deming (American, 1860-1942)
Man with Flute and Cougar
Cast bronze sculpture with golden brown patina
Signed, numbered 9/100, with Fenn F...
Category
Late 19th Century Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Life Size Roman Marble Figure
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully hand carved, full size Carrara marble figure of a boy. The robe is elegantly draped with clasps.
Category
19th Century Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Antique, Marble Sculpture of Juno
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunningly hand carved, large, circa 1825, solid Carrara marble statue of the crowned, Roman goddess, Juno- known in ancient times as the ruler of marriage, home, and family, a champ...
Category
1820s Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Renaissance Era Marble Figure Fragment
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary 17th century, hand-carved, solid Carrara marble, life sized figure fragment on raised base of the same. The subject is swaddled in a luxurious, gathered robe and tun...
Category
17th Century Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Ancient, Roman Marble Bust of a Boy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sensitively carved, solid marble bust of a young boy mounted on a custom, Lucite base. Carved fully in the round, though originally the figure was pa...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Graceful, Alabaster, Architecture Model
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully carved, Grand Tour period architectural model featuring fluted columns surmounted by Corinthian capitals and a relief carved pediment above a raised base inset with a fl...
Category
Early 1900s Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster, Marble
