Published Greek Marble Head of Aphrodite

Greek, Hellenistic, ca. 3rd to 2nd century BCE. A very fine marble head of a goddess, perhaps Aphrodite (Roman Venus), the goddess of love and romance, hand-carved from white marble with an elegant presentation. She gazes forward presenting a serene expression with generously lidded almond-shaped eyes, defined brow lines that lead to her nose, closed lips, a delicate chin, and smooth facial contours - all crowned by her centrally-parted wavy coiffure that is drawn back over her ears. An exquisite piece that may have been presented as an offering at a temple dedicated to the goddess. Size: 5.75" H (14.6 cm); 10.375" H (26.4 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.

Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, 2011, no. 4.

Provenance: ex-private collection, formed in the early 1980s

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#152692 Dimensions: Condition Report: Perhaps from a stele or relief as the back is flat and uncarved. Losses to nose, neckline, and high-pointed areas of coiffure and face. Professionally polished.