Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An evocative hollow-molded terracotta statue of an actor leaning casually against a short column, his large theatre mask attached to his waist. The mask appears to be a tragic one, with an exaggeratedly sad face and sharply drawn brows. The actor wears a very dramatic petasos atop his head and a himation affixed to one shoulder. His bare legs and genitals are clear beneath the draped garment. A great deal of white pigment remains on the figure, with traces of a grey-blue low on the body and column. This figure probably graced a Roman home. Size: 2.95" W x 7.55" H (7.5 cm x 19.2 cm)
As in Greece, masks played an important role in Roman theatre. An actor's entire head and hair would be covered by a large mask of simple design, made from linen or cork, with holes for the mouth and eyes. These masks allowed audience members seated in all areas of the theatre to understand what was happening, while also amplifying the actor's voice. The Pompeiian mosaic from the House of the Tragic Poet (now in the Naples National Archaeological Museum) shows several examples of these masks including one actor wearing an example pushed up on his head. Mask motifs on decorative art speak to the power and popularity of Roman theatre.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s
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#152857
Condition
Expertly repaired and restored; this is so well done as to be almost indiscernible. Nice preservation of details, form, and some of the original pigment. Light deposits on surface.