Lot 28
Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd to 1st century CE. A fascinating limestone relief fragment displaying the head of a female, her hair in long ringlets that fall to her shoulders in a style reminiscent of a kore statue as she gazes to the right with sizable almond-shaped eyes. Her youthful visage showcases characteristics of the Classical ideal with a naturalistic nose, fleshy cheeks, and full lips, as a fillet crowns her head. A larger figure is shown behind her with only his waist wrap showing, while a hand - perhaps belonging to the female - grasps at his long robe. This fragment was likely part of a funerary relief in which the young woman is taking part in a procession or ceremony honoring the deceased. Size: 5" W x 6.2" H (12.7 cm x 15.7 cm); 8.4" H (21.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Greek sculpture was intended to conjure human vitality, and was inspired by the works of Polykleitos, who became the model to which sculptors aspired in Greco-Roman as well as later Western European art. Greco-Roman statuary, unlike that of the other Mediterranean civilizations like Egypt, Persia, etc., celebrated the naturalistic human form. This included representations of their gods, who appear as if living people, dressed as if they are elite citizens. For example, the famous statue of Hades with Cerberus, his three-headed dog, today on display at the Archaeological Museum of Crete, has an extremely realistic quality despite its fantastical nature, down to the details on each dog head. This suggests an intriguing, more personal relationship with the gods rather than the more abstract or magical portrayals of other contemporary societies.
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA, acquired in New York, September 1998
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#175410
- Condition: Fragment of a larger piece. Expected nicks and abrasions commensurate with age. Nice remaining detail.
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