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Lot Essay
The facial features including the almond-shaped eyes with slightly downturned tear ducts, straight eyebrows curved down at the sides, and ear shape, can be compared to several portraits of Ptolemy II. See, for example, an alabaster portrait in the British Museum (no. 5 in Walker and Higgs, Cleopatra of Egypt, from History to Myth), a lifesized granodiorite statue in the Vatican (fig. 20 in Bianchi, et al., Cleopatra's Egypt, Age of the Ptolemies), a bronze bust in Cairo (no. 7, p. 159 in Stanwick, Portraits of the Ptolemies, Greek Kings as Egyptian Pharaohs), and a limestone head in Paris (no. 126 in Grimes, et al., La Gloire d'Alexandrie). Also of note are the placement of the uraeus, partially covering the browband, and the symmetrical uraeus loops.
Incised grid marks on the left back side of the nemes suggest that this portrait head may have served as a sculptor's model. It is unusual for sculptor's models, however, to be finished in the round.
Incised grid marks on the left back side of the nemes suggest that this portrait head may have served as a sculptor's model. It is unusual for sculptor's models, however, to be finished in the round.