Fine Pair of Late C18th Italian ‘Grand Tour’ Souvenir Carved Marble Cameo Bas-relief Profile Portraits of Roman Emperors.

Fine pair of late C18th Italian ‘Grand Tour’ souvenir carved marble cameo bas-relief profile portraits of Roman Emperors.

Carved white marble profile studies of the Roman Emperors Vespasian and Sergio Galba , mounted on original black marble or slate ovals . Superb detailed carving to each, both wearing laurel leaf wreath coronas and facing to dexter , with scripted titles to the edges “Vespasian” and “Sergio Galba” .

Mounted in possibly later , canted-corner bespoke wooden frames decorated with a simulated faux porphyry painted surface . The verso each with old collection or exhibition paper labels with ink details.

In excellent original as found , ‘countryhouse’ condition with an untouched dry surface to both the studies and the framing . The carved marble profile of Galba with with an historic lateral crack , but crucially stable and uncompromised.

Emperor Tito Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian Dynasty and ruled the Roman Empire from AD 69–79.

Sergio Galba was the head of an ancient noble family during the mid first century AD . Legend has it that the noble Galba family were descendants of the god Jupiter.

* an identical pair of carved marble reliefs mounted on slate panels, in different style frames ,were sold Christie’s London 19/07/2012 Sale No .4062 , property of an Italian aristocratic Lombard family £3500.

H 8”

W 6.5”

D 2”

Italy c.1780

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