Lot Essay
For a related portrait, also tentatively attributed to Arsinoe II, see no. 53 in Smith, Hellenistic Royal Portraits.
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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
A GREEK MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, CIRCA EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.
Details
A GREEK MARBLE PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, CIRCA EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.
Probably depicting Arsinoe II, her head inclined to her left, her long neck with subtle Venus lines, her oval face with a spade-shaped forehead, the gently-arching brows merging with the bridge of her slender nose, with large deep-set lidded eyes and a small mouth with bow-shaped lips, her wavy hair center parted, the hair at the top of her head roughly sculpted and likely finished in a secondary material, a drilled mortise at the part for insertion of an attribute, preserving traces of red pigment outlining the eyes
9½ in. (24.1 cm.) high
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, CIRCA EARLY 3RD CENTURY B.C.
Probably depicting Arsinoe II, her head inclined to her left, her long neck with subtle Venus lines, her oval face with a spade-shaped forehead, the gently-arching brows merging with the bridge of her slender nose, with large deep-set lidded eyes and a small mouth with bow-shaped lips, her wavy hair center parted, the hair at the top of her head roughly sculpted and likely finished in a secondary material, a drilled mortise at the part for insertion of an attribute, preserving traces of red pigment outlining the eyes
9½ in. (24.1 cm.) high
Provenance
Acquired by the current owner in Jerusalem, circa 1995.