Sculpture of a marble torso representing an ephebe, Roman period, 1st to 2nd century AD.

Marble torso representing an ephebe.
Roman period, 1st to 2nd century AD.
Height: 30 cm.
Provenance: Former Belgian private collection, Mr J-C. G. Uccle.

This finely sculpted marble torso represents an ephebe, a young man, in an idealised form typical of Roman statuary influenced by earlier Greek art. Although it lacks the head, arms and lower legs, the sculpture retains an impressive balance and grace. The smooth treatment of the marble accentuates the gentle yet athletic musculature of the young man, embodying the classical ideals of beauty and youth.

Ephebes were often depicted in Roman and Greek art as symbols of vitality, strength and the transition period between adolescence and adulthood. This torso reflects these ideals, emphasising the proportions and naturalistic representation of the human form that were characteristic of Roman sculptural art derived from classical Greek traditions.

The Roman period saw the reproduction of many types of Greek sculpture, including those of ephebes, as Roman patrons admired and imitated Greek art. Sculptures like this one would probably have adorned villas or public spaces, fulfilling both decorative and symbolic functions. The missing limbs and head suggest that the piece was originally part of a larger, full-body statue.