Grand Tour Statuary Marble Bust of Eros di Centocelle

Grand Tour Statuary Marble Bust of Eros di Centocelle

An enchanting Grand Tour marble sculpture from Italy dating to circa 1800, this statuary marble bust represents the god Eros di Centocelle in a masterful homage to the antique. Exemplifying classical beauty, the bust stands as a testament to both Grand Tour artistry and the enduring allure of Hellenistic form.

Origin: Italy
Date: Circa 1800
Material: Statuary marble raised on a Siena marble plinth

Dimensions: Height: 63 cm (25 in); Width: 24 cm (9.5 in); Depth: 20 cm (8 in)

Condition: Excellent antique condition with original collectors label to verso; minor age-appropriate wear.

This Grand Tour bust is directly inspired by the famed Roman marble Eros di Centocelle, which resides in the Capitoline Museums, Rome. The original, discovered in the Centocelle district during the 18th century, is celebrated for its poetic evocation of Praxiteles’ Greek masterpiece. Here, Italian craftsmen of the early 19th century capture both the ethereal beauty and the classical balance of the ancient world, making this work a prime example of the era's fascination with neoclassical revival and scholarly collecting. Similar busts grace prominent museum collections, underscoring the lasting importance of the Grand Tour tradition in shaping European taste.

Notable Features:

• Exquisite rendering in luminous white statuary marble, echoing the purity and finesse of ancient Greek originals.
• Mounted on a contrasting Siena marble plinth, lending an extra note of sophistication and grandeur.
• Sculptural refinement apparent in the languid, graceful pose of Eros, his relaxed elegance capturing both sensuality and divine allure.
• Finely modulated surfaces and lifelike modelling display the technical mastery associated with top-tier Grand Tour marble sculpture.

The bust’s neoclassical lines and subtle composition reflect a scholarly admiration for antiquity, typical of the period’s elite travellers who commissioned such works as cultural souvenirs. A desirable addition for collectors of antique marble sculpture, it stands as a rare and distinguished piece—unsigned, yet accompanied by an original collector’s label, reinforcing both authenticity and provenance.

Practical and decorative in equal measure, this marble bust offers a commanding presence for display on a mantelpiece, desk, or plinth within any refined interior. It is an exceptional and highly collectable Grand Tour marble sculpture, certain to become a centrepiece of any serious assemblage of 19th century works or classical art.