Marble Head of a Ptolemaic Queen
Marble
Head
Of a
Ptolemaic Queen
Daniel R. Diaz
Professor Shelby
Art History 101
December 11, 2004 This work of art is from the Greek, Hellenistic period, c. 270- 250 B.C.E. This fifteen inch marble bust corresponds to a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty according to the typical facial features of the ruling family at that time. The Ptolemaic dynasty occurred when there was a succession of Macedonian Greeks over Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C. Therefore, this head was most likely created to symbolize a Ptolemaic Queen. Its subject matter, the themes or ideas in a work of art distinct from its form, is not evident immediately. At first, one believes this to simply be a portrait of a woman typical of the time. Upon further research, it is believed that this head was created to represent a queen or even perhaps a goddess. Recently, it has been identified by different scholarly organizations as the head of Arsinoe II, who ruled with her brother Ptolemy II from 278 B.C.E. until her death in 270 B.C.E.1 (Met) This object, being placed in the back of a long central hallway, is found in a room containing large sculptures of men and women. There were also many portraits of only the heads of men and women. This placement hints to the wide belief that this head was originally thought to be prepared as a separate piece for insertion in a stature. There was once a veil covering the top and back of the head, but now it is missing. Marble at the summit and back of the head was left roughly worked, since a veil in either marble or stucco, a fine plaster used for moldings and other architectural decorations, would have hidden it. For the development of the ideal form, this sculpture had to accomplish its purpose having had to restrict itself almost exclusively to form giving the viewer a feeling of tranquility and authority.2 Consequently,
Head
Of a
Ptolemaic Queen
Daniel R. Diaz
Professor Shelby
Art History 101
December 11, 2004 This work of art is from the Greek, Hellenistic period, c. 270- 250 B.C.E. This fifteen inch marble bust corresponds to a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty according to the typical facial features of the ruling family at that time. The Ptolemaic dynasty occurred when there was a succession of Macedonian Greeks over Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C. Therefore, this head was most likely created to symbolize a Ptolemaic Queen. Its subject matter, the themes or ideas in a work of art distinct from its form, is not evident immediately. At first, one believes this to simply be a portrait of a woman typical of the time. Upon further research, it is believed that this head was created to represent a queen or even perhaps a goddess. Recently, it has been identified by different scholarly organizations as the head of Arsinoe II, who ruled with her brother Ptolemy II from 278 B.C.E. until her death in 270 B.C.E.1 (Met) This object, being placed in the back of a long central hallway, is found in a room containing large sculptures of men and women. There were also many portraits of only the heads of men and women. This placement hints to the wide belief that this head was originally thought to be prepared as a separate piece for insertion in a stature. There was once a veil covering the top and back of the head, but now it is missing. Marble at the summit and back of the head was left roughly worked, since a veil in either marble or stucco, a fine plaster used for moldings and other architectural decorations, would have hidden it. For the development of the ideal form, this sculpture had to accomplish its purpose having had to restrict itself almost exclusively to form giving the viewer a feeling of tranquility and authority.2 Consequently,
Cited: Knopf, 1971. Boardman, J. Greek Sculpture: The Archaic Period. London: Oxford University Press, 1978. Boardman, J. Greek Sculpture: The Classical Period. London: Oxford University Press, 1985. Burckhardt, Jacob. History of Greek Culture. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1963. Chamoux, Francois. The Civilization of Greece. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965. Laurie, Schneider, and Adams. Art Across Time, Vol. I. New York: McGraw Hill Publishing, 2002. Robertson, M. History of Greek Art. Cambridge: Cambridge Press, 1975. Stewart, A.F. Greek Sculpture: An Exploration. London: Oxford University Press, 1990. Whibley, Leonard. A Companion to Greek Studies. New York: Hafner Publishing Company, 1968. Yalouris, N. Ancient Sculpture of Greek Art. London: Oxford University Press, 1996.