A handsome pair of Italian 18th century marble busts of Democritus and Heraclitus. The busts are in white Carrara marble and raised by rectangular mottled tapered Breccia Gialla marble socles. Each Philosopher is wearing formal attire with wonderful expressions, natural... — Read More

A handsome pair of Italian 18th century marble busts of Democritus and Heraclitus. The busts are in white Carrara marble and raised by rectangular mottled tapered Breccia Gialla marble socles. Each Philosopher is wearing formal attire with wonderful expressions, natural wear and detail throughout. The names Heraclitus and Democritus are inscribed on the back.


Democritus and Heraclitus were two Pre-Socratic Greek Philosophers , know respectively as the Laughing and the Weeping Ancient Greek Philosophers. Democritus finding the condition of man vain and ridiculous, always had a mocking and laughing face; whereas Heraclitus, having pity and compassion on the human condition, wore a face perpetually sad, and eyes filled with tears. He was also known as "The Obscure" and the "Weeping Philosopher". — Read Less