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Antiquities and Pre-Columbian Art: Expressions of the Past
|
- Sale 2069
Live
| Chicago
Nov 21 | 10:00 AM CST
Live
| Chicago
Sale 2069
| Chicago
| Chicago
Estimate$3,000 – $5,000
Provenance:
Art Market, Europe, 2000s.
Acquired by the present owner, prior to 26 September 2008.
This vibrant mosaic fragment vividly depicts a Nilotic scene featuring pygmies engaged in a dramatic confrontation with a crocodile, set against a backdrop of reeds and lotus flowers on a marshy groundline. The figures, one wielding a dagger and another brandishing a rock, exemplify the Roman fascination with Egyptian themes, skillfully blending humor with exoticism. The exaggerated features of the pygmies, particularly their oversized phalli, align with Roman artistic conventions that often portray them in grotesque or comedic scenarios. Notably, the forked sticks held by the figure on the right are emblematic of both Egyptian-inspired dance and protective symbolism.
The portrayal of pygmies in combat with animals is a popular motif in Greco-Roman art, with roots tracing back to Homer, who describes them "join[ing] battle with the cranes at the streams of Oceanus" (Iliad, 3.3-6). Roman mosaics, particularly those from North Africa, adeptly adapted this mythical theme, frequently pairing pygmies with crocodiles and other creatures.
For a comparable mosaic featuring a Nilotic scene with pygmies depicted in similar poses and gestures, refer to A. Regina (ed.), Palazzo Massimo Alle Terme (Rome, 2007), p. 192.
Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe. Areas of replaced, missing, and infilled tesserae. Some general weathering and encrustation typical of age. Areas of encrustation and visible mineral deposits. Overall in very fine and attractive condition. See additional images. 57 lbs.
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