Lot 35C
Rome, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE. A exquisitely carved marble female figure of a Muse holding a mask in her left hand and a wind instrument in her right hand. This beautifully carved statue stands in classic contrapposto, with her weight shifted to her left leg and her right leg gracefully bent, the foot back and slightly to the side. She is dressed in a chiton with an overfold and a himation that is wrapped around her lower body with the ends tossed over her left shoulder. Copious draperies with folds of fabric flow over her curvaceous body down to her feet, her toes revealed from under the cascading material. An elegant stephane adorns her centrally parted, wavy coiffure. This idealistic representation displays the sculptor's inheritance of the Classical Greek tradition, demonstrating a continued Greek influence over Roman sculptors. Size: 8.75" W x 21" H (22.2 cm x 53.3 cm)
Just who of the famous Nine Muses does this figure portray? Two of these Muses held a mask. Thalia (also spelled Thaleia) - the Muse of Comedy and Poetry - who was the eighth born of the Nine Muses - a daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne - held a Comedy Mask. Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy (formerly the Muse of Chorus), carried a Tragedy Mask. The visage of this Muse's mask is difficult to definitively identify as that of Tragedy or Comedy; however, its presence suggests that the restorer understood the figure to depict either Thalia or Melpomene. However, her right hand was modeled to hold an instrument. This suggests that the piece probably represented Thalia, as she is traditionally depicted carrying a musical instrument in addition to a Comedy Mask.
Cf. a statue of Thalia in the Museo Archaeologico, Naples, illustrated at www.flickr.com/photos/67345247@N05/6363105479/in/photostream/.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex Joseph Klein collection, formed in New York between 1941 and 1980
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.
#131589
- Condition: Lower arms (mask and musical instrument) and base restored and head reattached. Small drill hole on left shoulder. Losses to end of musical instrument, tip of nose, and edges of integral base. Expected surface wear with nicks and abraded areas commensurate with age.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |