A priestess of Isis

Details

DANILO CERVIETTI (ITALIAN, 20TH CENTURY)
A priestess of Isis
with partially effaced signature 'D. CERVIETTI', on white marble plinth
Carrara marble and pale green marble
The figure: 43 ½ in. (110.5 cm.) high; 45 in. (115 cm.) wide; 18 in. (46 cm.) deep
The plinth: 44 in. (112 cm.) high; 51 ¾ in. (132 cm.) wide; 20 ½ in. (52 cm.) deep

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 10 and 13 June 1988, lot 103W.

Special notice

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Brought to you by

Giles Forster

gforster@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2146

Lot Essay

The Priestess of Isis refers to a follower of the most popular and enduring of all Egyptian deities. The name, Isis, comes from the Egyptian Eset ('the seat'), which referred to her stability and also the throne of Egypt as she was considered the mother of every pharaoh through the king's association with Horus, Isis' son. Little is known of the details of the rituals surrounding her worship. The Cult of Isis grew into a mysterious religion promising the secrets of life and death to initiates, who were then sworn to secrecy. It is known that the cult promised eternal life to those who were admitted to its secrets. It was not until Isis was worshiped in Rome that people wrote about the cult to any great degree and by then it was clear that knowledge of the rituals involved was only for initiates.
The present figure in her abandon and with a sensual smile on her lips embodies the essence of seductiveness and youth.

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