Bust of Melpomene

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Melpomene, the ancient Greek Muse of Tragedy, was often depicted with an abundance of hair adorned with vines, referencing her Dionysiac roots and the exaggerated masks worn by tragic actors in elaborate performances. This exuberant bust is a copy of a Roman full-length statue of Melpomene from the 2nd century AD, now housed in the Vatican Museums, where she is shown wearing intricate Greek attire, presenting a dramatic mask with her right hand. Discovered in the Villa di Cassio near Tivoli in 1774, this statue quickly gained recognition and inspired numerous copies by neoclassical sculptors active in Rome. Melpomene was among eight antiquities selected by Baron Theodor von der Ropp in 1804 to serve as models for commissions from Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844), a rising star in the art world at that time. Thorvaldsen's bust of Melpomene, whose current location remains unknown, is preserved in a photograph taken in 1927. Despite not being an exact match with this present bust, Thorvaldsen's version shares a similar form, indicating both sculptures were created within the same artistic circle. The level of detail in its carving suggests that this present bust could be the work of a skilled sculptor from Thorvaldsen's inner circle. This statue is featured in the Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art Sale on July 6th at Sotheby's London, Lot 155.