SculptureGreek4th century BCE

Grave Lekythos

c. 340 BCE

Classification

Sculpture

Medium

Pentelic marble

Culture

Greek

Period

Classical period, Late

Century

4th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

42 x 23 cm (16 9/16 x 9 1/16 in.)

Provenance

Melos, by 1754.[1] Nani di San Trovaso family collection, [2] Venice, (by 1754-until at least 1815). Gioacchino Ferroni [3], Italy, (by 1909-1909), sold; through [Jandolo & Tavazzi and Galerie Sangiorgi, April 1909] [4]; through [Count Pio Reese]; to Edward Waldo Forbes, Milton, MA, (1909). Alice Hathaway Forbes Cary[5], Milton, MA, (by 1909- May 1909), gift; to Fogg Museum of Art, 1909. [1] Paolo Maria Paciaudi (1761), Monumenta peloponnesia: commentariis explicate, Vol. 1, p. 136 (illustrated). [2] Collezione di tutte le antichita che si conservano nel museo Naniano di Venezia, 1815, Cat. 269 (and plate). The Nani collection (sometimes styled as the Museo Nani or the Museo Naniano) was the private antiquities collection of the Nani di San Travaso family in Venice. [3]Sometimes also referred to as Giovacchino Ferroni or Joachim Ferroni, Ferroni was an Italian dealer and collector, based first in Florence, then in Rome (life dates: 1854-1909). [4] This lekythos was listed in a posthumous sale of Ferroni’s collection as lot 772 (ill. Pl. LIV) (Catalogue de la vente aprés décés de Mr. Joachim Ferroni, Jandolo & Tavazzi and Galerie Sangiorgi, Rome, 14-22 April 1909). It was, however, purchased prior to the sale by Count Pio Resse, who was acting as a purchasing agent on behalf of Edward Waldo Forbes, along with 1909.19 (lot 487). Correspondence between Resse and Forbes, as well as a summary of relevant cables, pertaining to the purchases of 1909.19 and 1909.20 from the Ferroni collection can be found in the curatorial file for 1924.21 (with some copies in the file for 1909.19). Shipping documents for both 1909.19 and 1909.20 can be found in the curatorial file for 1909.19. The lekythos was purchased for 1350 Lira, plus a 10% commission to Resse. [5] Also known as Mrs. Edward M. Cary, she was Edward Waldo Forbes’s aunt. She appears to have contributed funds to the freight and cablegram costs pertaining to the Ferroni collection purchases (Note, dated April 22 [no year], curatorial file for 1924.21).