The ancient Roman bust of the 1st century, which had been lost for decades, has finally appeared at the San Antonio Museum of Art. One artist only bought from Texas goodwill for less than $ 40.
According to the San Antonio Museum of Art, in 2018, art collector Laura Young was shopping at the Goodwill Store in Austin, Texas, and came across a sculpture on the floor under the table. Those looking for underrated or unusual works of art told The Art Newspaper that Young bought them for $ 34.99. His post-purchase photo shows that he is buckling with a price tag on the cheek of the car.
After buying the bust, Young noticed that it was so old and worn that he wanted to know when and where he came from. Over the next few years, Young consulted with art history experts at the University of Texas at Austin and auction house experts across the United States to find answers.
Eventually, Jörg Demus, a consultant for art broker Sotheby’s, identified the bust as a work in a German museum decades ago and linked her to German authorities.
The sculpture was found to date from the late 1st century BC to the early 1st century BC. The museum believes that it depicts the son of King Pompeii, who lost to Julius Caesar in the civil war, but the Art Newspaper believes that the bust depicts Rome. Commander Dorss Germanicus.
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The bust belonged to Ludwig I of Bavaria, who lived from 1786 to 1868, and was part of a full-scale model built in a Pompeii house called Pompejanum in Aschaffenburg, Germany. This model has been in use for nearly 200 years, but was severely damaged by Allied bombers during World War II.
No one knows that the bust was almost destroyed and turned into Austin goodwill, but the museum pointed out that the US military had set up a base in Aschaffenburg that was used until the Cold War.
“It’s a wonderful story that includes World War II, international diplomacy, ancient Mediterranean art, second-hand clothing store detectives, historic Bavarian royalty, and the thoughtful stewardship of individuals or those who preserve art. Emily Value Neff, director of the museum’s Kelso, said in a statement.
As part of an agreement with the Bavarian State Government-owned Palace, Gardens and Lakes Administration, the Roman bust will be on display at the San Antonio Museum from now until May 21, 2023. After that, I will finally return to Germany.
Young said he was excited to discover the origin of the bust, but added that it was bittersweet because he couldn’t store or sell it.
“In any case, I’m happy to be just a part of a long and complex history. While he was there, he looked great in the house,” she said.
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