HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH-2ND CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK MARBLE VEILED HEAD OF A GODDESS
Hellenistic Period, Circa 4th-2nd Century B.C.
Her oval face with wavy center-parted hair pulled back over the tops of her ears, the strands individually incised, her spade-shaped forehead and gently arching brows forming a continuous plane with the bridge of her nose, the thin almond-shaped eyes deep-set and heavy lidded, the lips of the small mouth slightly parted, her chin somewhat pointed, wearing a veil over the top of her head and falling along her long neck, the underside fashioned for insertion into a separately-made figure
14½ in. (36.8 cm) high

Provenance

Galerie Simone de Monbrison, Paris, 1984-85

Lot Essay

Veiled female heads of similar style are known, beginning in the 4th century B.C. and continuing into the 2nd century B.C. As with the present example, they are often separately-made from fine marble for insertion into bodies of lesser material. Many can be identified as depicting a goddess, such as Hera or Demeter (see for example the Demeter of Knidos in the British Museum, pl. 79 in Ridgway, Fourth-Century Styles in Greek Sculpture). Heads of similar style have been found east and west. Compare the late 4th century B.C. head, thought to be from Rhodes, now in the St. Louis Museum of Art, no. 90 in Vermeule, Greek and Roman Sculpture in America, and the 2nd century B.C. head from Taranto, no. 285 in Carratelli, The Western Greeks.

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