The provenance research program on the ancient Mediterranean collection at the Dallas Museum of Art, supported by the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History (EODIAH), has enabled in-depth investigations into the histories of individual objects. This research explores the evolution of taste, the dynamics of the art market, and the history of both private and museum collections.
Two ancient Roman marble sculptures stand out for their rich and layered histories. Their trajectories trace back to the birth of archaeology in early modern Rome and follow the dispersion of antiquities across Europe during the Grand Tour era in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This lecture will retrace the journey of both works, from Italy to the United States, using archival sources and the diverse methodologies employed in provenance research.
Guest speaker:
Violaine Barthélémy Mwez, EODIAH Provenance Researcher
Images: Apollo, 1st–2nd century CE, restored in the 16th or 17th century. Roman. Marble. Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and Bromberg Family Wendover Fund, 2017.30; Bust of Herakles, 1st–2nd century CE, restored by Lambert Sigisbert Adam in the 18th century. Roman. Marble. Dallas Museum of Art, the Cecil and Ida Green Acquisition Fund, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation, and Bromberg Family Wendover Fund, 2015.31.