Antiquities and Ancient Art

Living it Up in the Late Roman World: The Country Mansions of the Mega-Rich

The Worcester (MA) Art Museum will be presenting a free lecture entitled Living it Up int he Late Roman World: The Country Mansions of the Mega-Rich, Sunday, April 15 at 3pm. The lecutre will be presented by Dr. Roger Wilson, Professor and Head, Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies, University of British Columbia.

The country villas of the late Roman aristocracy give us unique insights into the lifestyles of the super-rich as well as their taste and preferences in the interior décor of their mansions. This lecture will begin with a review of some of the characteristics of Roman imperial country retreats at the beginning of the fourth century—not only the well-known ‘villa’ of Diocletian at Split, but also more recent discoveries such as the estate of Galerius at Gamzigrad in Serbia and the suburban palace of Maximian at Cordoba in Spain.

Architectural links will be explored between these places and some grand, fourth-century, palatial mansions in the Roman countryside, which are likely to have belonged to private, albeit very rich, individuals. In all cases, both the use of architectural space and the choice of subject matter for the principal mosaic floors will be analyzed in the light of the ways each owner chose to show off his wealth, status. Free.

Egyptian Antiquities Exhibitions Top List for 2006

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art topped the list of the 10 most attended Antiquities events for 2006.

Just over 700,000 people flocked to see Tut in Florida, for an average of 5,443 per day. Two other shows of Egyptian antiquities -- Egypt's Sunken Treasures (Martin-Groupius-Bau Museum Berlin) and Hatshepsut: from Queen to Pharaoh (Metropolitan Museum, New York and the DeYoung Museum, San Francisco) captured the honors for second, third and fourth place.

The only event in the top 10 to feature Roman antiquities was the Antique Treasures exhibit held at the Musei Capitolini in Rome which finished sixth with 159,253 visitors.

Near Eastern antiquities held two slots in the top 10 with Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur (St Louis Art Museum) finishing eighth, and Forgotten Empire: the World of Ancient Persia (British Museum, London) finishing tenth with 155,404 visitors.

The continued domination of exhibitions of Egyptian antiquities underscores the broad appeal and parallels the current scarcity of affordable quality Egyptian antiquities on the market.

Will Important Roman Bronze Statue Smash Records?

In June, Sotheby's New York will sell one of the finest Roman bronze statues ever to come to auction. The slightly less-than-life size late Hellenistic to early Roman statue of the goddess Artemis accompanied by a stag looking up at her, is estimated to bring $5-$7 million.  The statue will smash this record and, if it breaks through the $10-million mark, will likely drive antiquities prices generally higher across the market.

Several factors are driving interest in this statue. First, it is being de-accessioned (not without significant controversy) by the Board of Directors of the Albright-Know Art Gallery in Buffalo. The museum has changed its charge and is selling 200 objects (paintings, pre-Columbian and Indian objects, African art etc.) to fund its new mission as an institution specializing in contemporary art.

Second, the statue is complete, in superb condition, and large. There are few surviving ancient bronze sculptures comparable in any of the world's museums.

Third, the statue is simply beautiful. It exudes Hellenistic sensitivity, harmony, and movement. Her arms are extended, her gaze focused and alive, and her flowing drapery so masterfully rendered that it appears layered and transparent.

Fourth, the statue not only has impeccable museum provenance, but left Italy around 1933 with a government export license so the buyer is immune from any attempts by the Italians to attempt to reclaim her.

Fifth, the dollar's weakness against Euro and the Sterling Pound continue to make antiquities in the USA look like comparable bargains.

Several of the world's best endowed museums will be competing with top private collectors. Several Middle Eastern oil families known to be amassing antiquities collections, and also flush with cash, will also likely be undeterred. 

No doubt the competition for Artemis will be fierce, and is almost guaranteed a world record.