KORE DRAPE White marble with patina H. 76 cm (without base) Roman art, 2nd century, based on a Greek original from the end of the 5th century BC. Provenance Former French collection, built up in the 1960s Ex Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo, 28/11/2015 (estimated at €30,000 / €40,000, sold for €70,000 excluding costs) Private collection of Mr S., since then Accompanied by its Certificate of Cultural Assets Presented in a frontal position, the figure rests on the left leg, while the right is bent, creating a slight contrapposto in the torso. The figure is dressed in a skilfully structured peplos: the décolleté plunges into a succession of naturalistic folds that reveal the navel beneath the fabric; under the pelvis, a notched and puffed fold falls progressively more rigidly towards the feet (now missing). The right arm is free, while the left supports a himation (cloak), also characterised by a wide, meticulously-worked pleat. This composition and the highly distinctive treatment of the clothing place this work in the tradition of Roman copies inspired by the famous Korai (Caryatids) from the Erechtheion in Athens (c. 420-410 BC), and in particular the two central figures in the portico of the Erechtheion. The uniqueness of these copies lies in the reinterpretation carried out by the Roman copyists, who probably did not have the opportunity to observe the original Korai in its entirety. Indeed, the way in which the himation appears to cover the peplos on the front, falling over the left arm, differs from the original sculptures, where the peplos and the himation remain two distinct elements simply superimposed on the back of the statues. The two best-known groups of copies, dating from the Augustan and Hadrianian periods respectively, have themselves been identified by modern archaeologists as inspired by earlier copies of the two central Korai of the Erechtheion. The surface of the marble is smooth, and the folds are carved more linearly and parallel to each other. For comparable models, see BIEBER, M., Ancient Copies: Contributions to the History of Greek and Roman Art, 1977, pl. 8. A Roman Marble Drapery of a Kore, after a Greek Original. Presented in frontal view, the figure stands with the left leg as the weight-bearing support while the right is flexed, creating a subtle contrapposto in the torso. The figure is draped in an elaborately structured peplos: the neckline descends into a succession of naturalistic folds that reveal the navel beneath the fabric; below the pelvis, a gathered and bloused fold falls in an increasingly rigid manner toward the feet (now missing). The right arm is exposed, while the left arm supports a himation, itself characterized by substantial and meticulously rendered pleating. This compositional arrangement and highly distinctive drapery style situate this work within the tradition of Roman copies derived from the celebrated Korai (Caryatids) of the Erechtheion in Athens (ca. 420-410 BCE), particularly the two central figures of the Erechtheion's porch.The singularity of these copies resides in the Roman copyists' reinterpretation, as they likely did not have the opportunity to observe the original Korai in their entirety. Indeed, the manner in which the himation appears to overlay the peplos at the front, cascading over the left arm, differs from the original sculptures, where the peplos and himation remain distinct elements simply superimposed at the back of the statues. The two most renowned groups of copies, dating to the Augustan and Hadrianic periods respectively, were themselves identified by modern archaeologists as inspired by earlier copies of the two central Korai of the Erechtheion. The marble surface is smooth, with folds carved in a more linear and parallel fashion relative to one another. For comparable examples, see BIEBER, M., Ancient Copies: Contributions to the History of Greek and Roman Art, 1977, pl. 8.