Rare Grand Tour bust of Antinous Vaticano

Very rare, fine quality example of a mid 19th century Grand Tour marble or dense alabaster library bust of Antinous, after the antique original known as the 'Antinous Vaticano' discovered at Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli in 1790 and now on permanent display in the Pio Clementione in the Vatican Museums, Rome. Good example well carved with no losses. Inscribed to the front 'Antinoo Vaticano' Regarded as the most beautiful man in the Roman world Antinous was both the favourite and lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Busts of this version of Antinous are rare. Presented on a 19th century scholastic ebonised socle. Italian, probably Rome, circa 1860.

H 41cm x W 26cm x D 21cm; bust H 34cm x W 26cm x D 16cm

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