Relief with Greek Inscription
Classical Antiquities
Date | early 1st century A.D. |
---|---|
Object type | sculpture |
Medium, technique | carved, marble |
Dimensions | height: 48.8 cm, width: 29.5 cm, depth: 32.6 cm |
Inventory number | 4134 |
Collection | Classical Antiquities |
On view | Museum of Fine Arts, Basement Floor, Classical Antiquity, The ancient Mediterranean |
The larger-than-life portrait is assembled from several pieces, some of which are early 20th-century supplements. The folds of clothing barely indicated at the back show that the head belonged to a bust and not a statue. The long hair is tied in a bun, which was separately carved and fitted to the portrait with the help of a dowel hole at the nape of the neck. The grooves at the sides indicate marble insets of an unknown function. Based on its monumental size, the bust probably represents a female member of the imperial family, perhaps the empress Livia, the wife of Augustus.
Marble analyses have shown that the statue was made of Parian (Paros-Marathi) marble.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.