A remarkable story has emerged surrounding an ancient Roman bust discovered by a thrift store owner in Austin, Texas five years ago. Purchased for a mere $35, the marble sculpture is believed to date back to the late 1st century B.C.E. or early 1st century C.E. and is Italian in origin. Now, the piece is being repatriated to Germany, from where it last came.
The last-known record of the bust traces it back to the Pompejanum, a replica of a Pompeii villa in the German city Aschaffenburg, commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria in the 1840s. However, the piece disappeared from the site either during or shortly after World War II, and some have speculated that it may have been taken by a U.S. soldier stationed in the area.
For the last year, the sculpture has been on display at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), working with the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces to return the piece. It will be removed from display on May 21, after which it will be sent back to Germany.
The spokesperson for the museum confirmed that the portrait will either go back on display in its original location at the Pompejanum or at the Munich Glyptothek with the rest of Ludwig I’s collection. However, the question of who will pay for the sculpture’s shipping and insurance remains unanswered.
The discovery of the bust has sparked international cooperation and intrigue, with the SAMA and the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces working together to ensure the piece is returned to its rightful home. Emily Ballew Neff, director of SAMA, called it “a wonderful example of international cooperation,” adding that the story includes “the World War II era, international diplomacy, art of the ancient Mediterranean, thrift shop sleuthing, historic Bavarian royalty, and the thoughtful stewardship of those who care for and preserve the arts, whether as individuals or institutions.”
The bust’s current owner, Laura Young, operated a company called Temple of Vintage and suspected the piece may be worth much more than the $34.99 she paid for it. She eventually confirmed the sculpture to be authentic and got in touch with Bonhams and Sotheby’s, but ultimately knew she had to relinquish it. The identity of the bust’s subject is still up for debate among experts, with suggestions ranging from Sextus Pompey to Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus.
Despite the bittersweet ending for Young, she reflected positively on her role in the sculpture’s complicated history, saying, “Either way, I’m glad I got to be a small part of [the sculpture’s] long and complicated history, and he looked great in the house while I had him.”
The repatriation of the ancient Roman bust from Texas to Germany is a testament to the importance of preserving art and cultural artifacts, as well as the need for international cooperation in the arts.
