A ROMAN LIMESTONE PORTRAIT HEAD OF JULIUS CAESAR, AUGUSTAN PERIODAugustan period, c. late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD. Sculpted with finely detailed features, the face revealing an intense expression, with deep-set eyes beneath arched eyebrows, a sharp nose, slim, narrow lips, and a prominent chin. A minor wrinkle is noticeable on his forehead, positioned between the eyes and extending to the sides of the mouth, denoting maturity but not advanced age. His hair is meticulously carved. Mounted to a modern wood and metal stand. Condition: Good condition commensurate with age. Extensive wear with signs of natural weathering and erosion, some nicks, and losses. Provenance: Arthur Huc (1854-1932). Marcel Huc, inherited from the above. Thence by descent within the same family. Arthur Huc was the chief editor of La Dépêche du Midi, at the time the leading newspaper in Toulouse, France. He was also an accomplished art critic and early patron of several artists, including Henri de Toulouse- Lautrec. At the same time, Arthur Huc was a keen collector of Asian art, a passion that he inherited from his legendary ancestor Évariste Régis Huc, also known as the Abbé Huc (1813-1860), a French Catholic priest and traveler who became famous for his accounts of Qing-era China, Mongolia and especially the then-almost-unknown Tibet in his book “Remembrances of a Journey in Tartary, Tibet, and China”. French Export License: Certificat d’exportation pour un bien culturel Nr. 185424 dated 3 July 2017 has been granted and a copy is accompanying this lot.Dimensions: Height c. 39 cm (incl. the stand)Julius Caesar, born in 100 BC, was a key figure in Roman history and played a pivotal role in transforming Rome from a regional power to a vast military empire. His achievements set a standard for leadership that influenced world leaders for centuries.