Five years ago, an eagle-eyed thrift store named Laura Young picked up what turned out to be an ancient Roman bust at a Goodwill in Austin, Texas. Now the sculpture returns to Germany, where it last came from.
The marble bust is thought to have been created in the late 1st century BCE or early 1st century CE. Although of Italian origin, the last known record of the piece is at the Pompejanum, a full-size replica of a commissioned Pompeii villa. in the 1840s by King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
Located in the German city of Aschaffenburg, the Pompejanum suffered heavy bombardment during World War II. The site was restored and reopened in the 1960s, but by then, or possibly soon after, the bust was missing. Some suspect it may have been taken by an American soldier stationed in the area.
Over the past year, the sculpture has been on display at the San Antonio Museum of Art, which has worked with Young and the Bavarian State-Owned Palaces Administration to return the piece.
Portrait of a man, Roman to see at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Courtesy of SAMA.
The bust will be removed from the exhibition on May 21, after which it will be repatriated to Germany. “Upon its return, the portrait will either be exhibited again at its original location in the Pompejanum in Aschaffenburg, or in the Glyptothek in Munich together with the rest of Ludwig I’s collection,” a museum spokesperson told Artnet. News. The representative declined to comment when asked if SAMA or the Bavarian state-owned palace administration would pay for shipping and insurance of the sculpture.
“It’s a great story whose plot includes the era of World War II, international diplomacy, the art of the ancient Mediterranean, the search for thrift stores, historic Bavarian royalty and the thoughtful management of those who care for and preserve the arts, whether as individuals or institutions,” said Emily Ballew Neff, director of SAMA, in a statement Last year.
She called the museum’s work with the Bavarian State Palace Administration a “wonderful example of international cooperation. This is another essential way in which our art museums participate in diplomacy around the world. »
Laura Young with the portrait of a man. Photo courtesy of Laura Young.
Young, who operates a company called Temple of Vintage, only paid $34.99 for the bust at Goodwill, but even then she suspected it was worth much more. This idea led her to connect with academics from the University of Texas and auction house experts. After four years, Young finally confirmed that the work was authentic.
At that moment, however, she knew she had to give it up.
“My husband and I were on a road trip when I received an email from Bonhams confirming that the head was indeed Roman, but with no provenance they could no longer be of any help. Shortly after, Sotheby’s made contact,” Young recalled. “There were a few months of intense excitement after that, but it was bittersweet because I knew I couldn’t keep or sell the [bust].”
Who exactly the sculpture is meant to represent remains unclear. Experts have suggested the face belongs to Sextus Pompey, a military leader who fought and lost to Julius Caesar before being executed. Others believe the bust was based on Roman politician Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus.
“Anyway, I’m glad I got to be a part of [the sculpture’s] long, convoluted story,” Young continued, “and it looked great in the house while I had it.
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay one step ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news, revealing interviews and incisive reviews that move the conversation forward.
