PROPERTY FORMERLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR. & MRS. FREDDY AND REGINA T. HOMBURGER

A GREEK MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN

PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, CIRCA 3RD CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN
Ptolemaic Period, Circa 3rd Century B.C.
Perhaps depicting Bernike II, her oval head turned to her right and slightly inclined, the deep-set eyes gazing upwards beneath softly-modelled brows, the fleshy lips slightly parted, the center-parted wavy hair bound in a fillet and tied in a chignon, the remains of an iron pin at the back for attachment of now-missing plaster additions, the earlobes drilled for attachment of now-missing earrings, the long neck with the clavicular notch rendered
15 in. (38 cm) high

Provenance

French Private Collection
English Private Collection, late 19th century
Charles Lipson, Boston, 1970

Literature

J. Trilling, et al., Selections from the Collection of Freddy and Regina T. Homburger, no. 3.
Gallery Guide to the Art of Four Continents, Ringling Museum, no. 67.
M. Hoff, "A Ptolemaic Portrait in Sarasota," in Athanor II, pp. 1-10.

Exhibited

Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, April 2-24, 1971.
Art of Four Continents, Ringling Museum, Sarasota, FL, October 18-November 26, 1978.

Lot Essay

The closest parallel for this head is the portrait excavated in the Alexandrian Sarapieion in 1905-6. The identity of the Sarapieion head has long been debated, with attribution ranging from Bernike II, Arsinoe III and Cleopatra I. Most recently, Bernike II was seen as "the most logical choice on stylistic grounds by comparison with other accepted portraits of the queen and also because of her association with the foundation of the sanctuary." See no. 54 in Walker and Higgs, Cleopatra of Egypt, from History to Myth.

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