Ancient Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. 2nd to 1st century CE. A miniature bronze head of a woman or goddess, perhaps depicting Aphrodite (Roman Venus), the goddess of love and romance, cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process, with an elegant presentation. With her head tilted ever so slightly to the left, she presents a breathtaking visage with beautiful almond-shaped eyes, arched brow lines that lead to her slender nose, full closed lips, and smooth skin. This delicate visage is framed by a swept back wavy coiffure that is skillfully rolled to a fanciful looped chignon and adorned by a lovely diadem atop. An elegant votive likely intended for a small household altar, or given as an offering at a temple dedicated to the goddess. Size: .875" H (2.2 cm); 2.625" H (6.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Aphrodite (Venus in the Roman pantheon) has inspired countless depictions throughout art history, among the most famous, Attic sculptor Praxiteles's "Aphrodite of Knidos" (ca. 360 to 330 BCE), the equally famous "Lely's Venus" (ca. 100 to 199 CE), Alexandros of Antioch's "Venus de Milo" ( 130 to 100 BCE), the Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli's masterful painting "Birth of Venus" (1484-86), and Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens' equally masterful "Judgement of Paris" (ca. 1636) painting.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired in the 1970s
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#144104
Condition
A section from a larger statue with expected surface wear and abrasions to areas. The bronze has developed a beautiful green and deep russet patina over the ages.