COLLECTING MARBLE BUSTS A marble bust will not only be a wonderful talking point, but will also allow you to own a small piece of portraiture history
Whatever direction an artist ends up going in with their work, the human form and portraiture will always be the basis of their training. In sculpture, perfecting the dimension, proportion and expression of the face was key to whether or not the artist would ultimately be successful, and commissions were won or lost on the artist’s ability to create a realistic representation of the subject.
Comprising the head, shoulders and chest, the bust was a Greek invention, adopted with proli cacy by the Romans, and was used to document and commemorate an individual – human or divine. Busts are perhaps one of the most interesting marble items to collect, thanks to the wide variety of subjects and, as the collectors and commissioners of the past liked to do, can be chosen and displayed according to the buyer’s tastes in philosophy, religion or even politics.
Aesthetics also play a part and, when considering a bust, it’s important to visualise where it might sit in your home. A cleaner, sharper model with a classical leaning will always lend a completely di erent feel to a room than something more rustic and unre ned.
RIGHT This weathered bust of Diana (est £1,000-£1,500) features in Dreweatts’ Fine Sale, 31st March.
With older examples being much more expensive and rarer to nd, a good place to start is the 19th century. The Victorians were particularly keen on immortalising themselves and their icons in marble. Around 1840, there was a shi away from the traditional use of classical
clothing to contemporary dress.
Opt for the unusual
Art deco busts are also worth investigating and as the 1920s are currently enjoying a resurgence in interest, they make a good investment. With their stylised, modernist look, they would t particularly well into a contemporary home. Interestingly, subject ma er also plays a part in valuation, as well as being one of the rst things that may draw you to the piece. Common subjects (major deities, imperial rulers) command a lower price due to their ubiquity, whereas an unusual si er, for example the intriguing Bust of a Black Boy (c1705) by