Lot 33
Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. late 4th to 1st century BCE. A haunting marble head, a fragment from a larger statue, depicting a woman's face with wide, staring eyes, a thin nose, and a small, full-lipped mouth above a small chin. The woman has a strong brow line and wears her hair parted at the center with a diadem or band slightly back on her head. The rest of it is carved with a gentle wave. Her small ears are partly visible underneath her hair. The statue would once have been smoothed and painted bright colors. Size: 6.1" W x 8" H (15.5 cm x 20.3 cm); 13.1" H (33.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Inspired by historical knowledge like that collected at the Library of Alexandria, prominent Hellenistic art collectors commissioned large pieces based on public statues from the earlier Classical Period. More available art forms like this one echoed the naturalistic, detailed classical style that reached a pinnacle in small statuary during the Hellenistic period. Artisans looked to inspiration not only from the past but also from what they observed around them - usually women. Although women were also subjects of Classical sculpture, in the Hellenistic period, there was a flowering of artwork depicting them in naturalistic poses and everyday life - first as goddesses, later as ordinary women in a range of activities. This coincided with women becoming more powerful in public life - beginning with Olympias, Alexander the Great's mother who looked after the court of Macedon in his absence, Hellenistic women began to use their talents in the political sphere in a way that they were unable to during the Classical period (when Pericles famously said that the greatest glory of women was to be least talked about by men). Women gained economic and legal responsibilities and could become citizens in their own right, separate from their husbands. For example, a woman held the office of Phile of Priene, supervising the construction of a reservoir and aqueduct. Meanwhile, inscriptions from Delos reveal that women held property and slaves, as well as being responsible for their own debts. Looking at this sculpture, it is fascinating to think of her as a real person whose society recognized her as an individual with authority, rather than an idealized form.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private G. Loles collection, Easton, Connecticut, USA, acquired in the 1980s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#144118
- Condition: Surface is weathered, with deep deposits in the lower profile areas. Nose has been reattached but this is skillfully done and difficult to discern. Lower back of the head is lost. Otherwise the head is nicely preserved, with clear form.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |