MOSAÏQUE NILOTIQUE - ART ROMAIN - IIe siècle après J-C

Lot 23.A
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Estimation :
4000 - 6000 EUR
MOSAÏQUE NILOTIQUE - ART ROMAIN - IIe siècle après J-C
Superb mosaic of marble tesserae. Height: 47 cm - Length: 117 cm. Technique: This is an opus tesselatum with figurative decoration. The tesserae measure between 0.1 and 0.5 cm on each side for the figures and 0.5 and 1 cm for the rest. The tesserae are laid tightly, especially around the figures, while for the background there are systematically one or two rows of tesserae following the motif. This is a parody of Endymion (in ancient Greek Ἐνδυμίων / Endymíôn) In Greek mythology, Endymion is a simple shepherd or a king of Elis, depending on the version. He is best known for being one of the lovers of Selene, goddess of the moon. In the mosaic Endymion leaves his rock where he was sleeping Endymion was married, but his beauty inspired a violent love in Selene who asked (unless it was Endymion himself) Zeus to make him sleep forever to preserve his beauty. He is seen watching his son Narcissus in the water and being held back by Selene (represented as a duck) who wants to prevent him from becoming king. These mosaics had an apotropaic function and were placed at the entrance of the Domus. Provenance : Private collection, France, acquired on the Spanish art market in 1972 (Subastas - Madrid) and then by descent. High resolution photos (French estate - Delivery of lots in Paris (rue Drouot) Lyon or Marseille a few days after the sale) 4 000 - 6 000 € - CHF 4 200 - 6 300
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