Italic Figurine Female figurine

Inv. No.: 81.006
Provenance: Central Italy
Date: 3rd-2nd century BC
Height: 68mm
Width: 43mm
 
A small figurine of a woman with arms outstretched in offering. Her body is flattened, but it is enlivened by the contrapposto stance. Her straight left leg points forwards and a little to the side while her right leg is bent at the knee and points backwards slightly. Her torso and head bend slightly to her right. Her face is round with large, oval incised eyes and a small mouth and nose. She wears a mantle piously draped over her head. It hangs down her back and is carried around to the front and draped over her left arm. Beneath this cloak she wears a high-belted, sleeveless chiton. Grooves are used to suggest the texture and folds of the drapery. There is an especially deep, horizontal groove across the middle of her back, perhaps meant to suggest a belt, but this does not continue at the front. Her right arm gestures outwards freely and is bent at the elbow. The open right hand with palm facing forward is very large, suggesting the patera that such figurines often offer with their right hand. On the left side, her arm is joined to her body above the elbow, which is bent. The lower part of the left arm projects sideways and the left hand is also shown with an open palm facing forward. There is a dark patina and the figurine is mounted on a mahogany base. Overall, it is in very good condition.

Function:
A votive offering.

Manufacture:
Mould-made using the lost-wax method.

Bibliography:
Antiquities, Charles Ede catalogue, 119 (June 1981), No. 10.

Brendel, O. J., Etruscan Art, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, Penguin, 1978, 427-429.

Brown, D., "Bronze and Pewter", Roman Crafts, eds, D. Strong and D. Brown, New York, New York University Press, 1976, 25-41.

Cederna, A., "Notizie degli Scavi", Notizie Scavi, V, Serie VIII (1951), 197-198.

Haynes, S., "The Bronze Priests and Priestesses from Nemi", Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Römische Abteilung, 67 (1980), 34-45.

Comparanda:
Cederna, A., "Notizie degli Scavi", Notizie Scavi, V, Serie VIII (1951), Fig. 10, 18 and 19 (very similar figurines from Carsòli).

Colonna, G., Santuari dtruria, Milano, Electa, 1985, 1.9 (larger, toga-clad male figure with similar stance and gesture, offering viscera in his left hand; second half of 3rd century BC from Arezzo).

Cristofani, M., I Bronzi degli Etruschi, Novara, Istituto Geografico De Agostini, 1985, No. 77 (similar figurine; 3rd-2nd century BC).

Franzoni, L., Bronzetti Etruschi e Italici del Museo Archeologico di Verona, Roma, Giorgio Bretschneider, 1980, Nos. 78 and 79 (similar votive figurines with mantle, especially 78).

Green, J. R., Antiquities: A description of the Classics Department Museum in The Australian National University, Canberra, Canberra, Faculty of Arts, The Australian National University, 1981, 98 (No. 77.02; similar figurine).

Haynes, S., "The Bronze Priests and Priestesses from Nemi", Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Römische Abteilung, 67 (1980), Tafel 15,1 (larger bronze with similar stance); Tafel 18,6 and 9 (similar figurines).

Function:
The motif derives from literary references to Eros with a torch that suggest his role in the igniting of passions, but this figurine is principally a decorative element from a vessel, lamp or perhaps a candelabrum.

Manufacture:
Cast solid using the lost-wax method.

Bibliography:
Lamb, W., Greek and Roman Bronzes, London, Methuen, 1929, 225 (hairstyle).

Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae

Lafaye, G., "Lmor incendiaire? Mélanges drchéologie et distoire de l?Eacute;cole Française de Rome, Antiquité, 10 (1890), 61-97.

Comparanda:
Comstock, M. and C. Vermeule, Greek, Etruscan & Roman Bronzes in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Greenwich, Connecticut, New York Graphic Society, 1971, No. 102 (Graeco-Roman flying Eros figurine).

Hayes, J. W., Greek, Roman, and Related Metalware in the Royal Ontario Museum: A Catalogue, Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1984, No. 222 (Cupid figurine attached to a bronze lamp; 5th-6th century AD).

Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (1986), III, 2, Eros 387 (1st century BC bronze figurine with torch); Amor, Cupido 479 (dancing bronze figurine with torch held low in right hand).

(1986), III, 1, "Eros", 850-952, especially 850-852 (by C. Augé and P. Linant de Bellefonds); "Amor, Cupido", 952-1049, especially 952-955, 974-977 ("Section VII. Amor porte-torche") (by N. Blanc and F. Gury).