Bearded Male Head In White Marble

Central Italy, late 17th – early 18th century
Fragmentary marble sculpture depicting a bearded male head with deeply curled hair and strong, expressive features. The face is carved with solemn introspection: the eyes are half-closed, the lips slightly parted, as if about to speak or breathe. The dense, voluminous locks of the hair and beard are rendered with vigorous use of the drill, a technique typical of late Baroque Roman sculpture.
The unfinished back and crown of the head suggest that the piece originally formed part of a larger architectural or monumental ensemble – possibly a fountain mask, a keystone element, or an allegorical figure set in a niche. The robust modeling and dramatic carving reflect a fully mature Baroque aesthetic, with echoes of both Bernini and Michelangelo, particularly in the heroic tension of the expression.