Septimius severus head FOR SALE

For sale at Christie’s auctions 28 October 2019 : a superb marble portrait head of the emperor Septimius Severus. Estimated price : USD 400,000-USD 600,000.



The description of the lot by the auction house is quite interesting : « Portraits of Septimius have been grouped into four main types, with significant variations. As F. Johansen informs (p. 8 in Roman Portraits III), “Septimius was never content with his official portrait. This suffices to explain why he altered his appearance from that of a soldier to someone apparently resembling, successively, Antonius Pius, Marcus Aurelius and finally, Serapis, the Alexandrian deity.” The present portrait displays his mature visage, as seen in the creases on his brow, naso-labial folds, sunken eyes and pronounced cheekbones. His long curly beard forks below his mouth and, most distinctively, there are four locks of curls falling to the forehead, which fits firmly into the fourth type of Severus-Serapis. For a similar example in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, also persevering the askew proper-right eye, see no. 4 in Fleming, op. cit.

Here, the Septimius' adoption of the Serapis' characteristic hairstyle is purposeful, indicating the Emperor wanted to note both his African heritage and connect himself to the deity’s association with renewal and life after death. Following the deadly civil wars of Septimius' early years, a new dynasty was resolutely entrenched in Rome and the Empire was on the verge of another golden age. The Serapis-type portrait was introduced in about 200 A.D. after the imperial family visited Egypt and the Sanctuary of Serapis in Memphis in 199-200 A.D. (see D.E.E. Kleiner, Roman Sculpture, p. 320). The Serapis-type portrait of Septimius is thought to reflect the famous cult state of Serapis by Bryaxis that stood in the god’s temple in Alexandria. »

Maybe @maridvnvm and @dougsmit could join their fortune and bid on it....$$$

 

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I'm not even willing to admit that it is Septimius with certainty. Not all statues were emperors. Could this be a fan of Septimius who looked a little like him and copied hair style? I'll stick with the plastic one I 3D printed.
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-portrait-of-septimius-severus-35531

 

I agree with Doug - how we can be sure it's Septimius and not Serapis? As far as the description of the features, I am not sure that I agree with this. Don't see anything that jumps out as especially "mature" about the portrait, nor is there necessarily a "forked beard" - the description seems to extrapolate from images seen on coins and the Severan tondo.

 

I’m offended by so much skepticism. An inscription have been found under the statue. It reads :
SEVERVS PIVS AVG
MADE IN TAIWAN

Et voilà !

 

Q

 

Haha. Just having some fun with it.

 

IMO, it looks far too young to be Septimius.

My first impression honestly is that it's Geta. He grew out his beard for the duration of 211 AD and I've read that people exclaimed that Geta was a more youthful Septimius which of course Caracalla didn't like one bit.

Compare to the bust on this coin:
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s7262.html#RIC_0185a

 

Um. No.

6 Centa-K’s for a Dead Head? No.

I will stick with my FOUREE Alexander III of Makedon on my desk...

@ominus1 probly has some cool fouree busts sitting around his home, also.

 

that's a kool repro bust of ole A T G..but as for me, no..just a small one of Amadeus on the piano..

 

ROCK me Amadeus!