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“YOUNG OCTAVIUS” | A GRAND TOUR MARBLE BUST OF CAESAR AUGUSTUS
After the Antique, Italy, circa late 19th Century; signed verso L.C.
Item # 810OPP16I
A fine Grand Tour marble sculpture executed during the last quarter of the 19th century, this bust is thought to depict Gaius Octavius Thurinus or Caesar Augustus, the adopted heir of his maternal great-uncle Julius Caesar. The original is held in the Vatican galleries and was a very popular subject during the Grand Tour for sculptors and collectors alike; as such it was copied by many sculptors during the late 19th and early 20th century. The present example is crisply sculpted, the hand carving precise and sharp in the Carrara marble. The bust is raised over a socle incised and highlighted in red ink "C. Augusto” that is shaped in the back to perfectly conform with the reverse of the bust; it raises the bust on a steel pintle.
Measurements: 21” H x 11” W x 7” D
Condition Report:
Original socle. Small chip to left of breast, light discoloration to the marble. Other minor scuffs and wear as expected. Overall remaining in very fine original condition.