Strong, Eugénie: Catalogue of the Greek & Roman antiques in the possession of the right honourable Lord Melchett at Melchet Court and 35 Lowndes Square (Oxford [u.a.], 1928)

42 HEAD OF ROMAN Plate XXXIX

H. 355 m. Restored: tip of nose; right ear and most of left; name-plate and plinth. Wart near
right ear. Modern, with very clever imitation of weathering. Luna marble. Pleasing yellowish

patina.

Good modern imitation of a Roman portrait of the Republican period. Imitations of this
character, often of excellent workmanship, were not unusual in the seventeenth century
and again under the First French Empire, when there was a great demand for Roman
portraiture. The head of Caesar, at the British Museum, is another case in point.
From the Collection of the late Sir Charles Robinson, OB.

43 FRAGMENT OF RELIEF WITH HEAD OF CERES Plate XXXIX

H. (max.) -435 m. Br. (max.) -40 m. Unrestored. The knot of hair with ring and barley below it, and
the parts about the front of the eye, smeared with plaster. Red traces on background. The yellow
colour on hair and on lower part of face seems due to oxydization. The fragment has been made up to fit
into a modern frame adorned with palmettes. Marble very small grain Italian.

This graceful decorative piece has given rise to conflicting opinions. It has been held
to be Greek and part of a stele, or else Hellenistic—and more recently a distinguished
authority pronounced it 'neo-attic'. On the other hand it has also been attributed to the
Renascence, and even to the period of Louis XVI or that of Napoleon. The head appears
to be incorrectly mounted, which makes it additionally difficult to arrive at a satisfactory
conclusion.

Acquired a few years ago in London.
40