A group of three Roman Nilotic marble mosaic panels
Circa 2nd Century A.D.
All of arched form and likely originally part of the same mosaic, the scenes depicted in multicoloured tesserae on a white background and set within a dark border, the largest panel depicting Leander swimming the Hellespont to reach Hero's tower, the nude priestess leaning out of the upper window and holding a lamp (?) to guide him, two large flowers in the field; the second panel depicting three nude pygmies, or dwarves, at play, likely mimicking athletes, one holding a branch in his outstretched hand; and the smallest panel with an erotic scene, the male likely a pygmy imitating a fisherman by wearing charactiristic headgear, holding a torch (?), a building behind, a large flower in the field, 93.5cm x 50.2cm; 73.5cm x 42.4cm; 60cm x 48cm respectively注脚Provenance:
Private collection, France, acquired on the Spanish art market in 1972; and thence by descent.
French art market 2018.