Limestone Bust of a Noble Woman from Palmyra
Culture: Roman/Palmyra
Period: 2nd century A.D.
Material: Limestone
Dimensions: 53.2 cm high
Price: 48 000 Euro
Ref: 6649
Provenance: From the old French private collection of the archaeologist, epigraphist and historian Jérôme Carcopino (1881-1970). From 1913 he lived in Algiers and administered as the director Algeria's archaeological museum. Thence in the family estate. Accompanied by a French antiquities passport.
Condition: Wear on the chin and nose, otherwise very beautifully preserved and unrestored.
Description: Almost life-size limestone bust of a noble woman from Palmyra, which served as an elaborately crafted funerary portrait. The lady wears a high rising, finely vertically pleated veil. Her thick hair, parted in the centre and pulled back, protrudes from underneath. On the ears magnificent pearl jewellery hangs down. The features are delicate, her gaze is sublime, but the heavy lids also make her appear melancholic. The woman looks straight ahead. Lids, eyebrows and pupils are coloured in black and underline the effect. She has a himation thrown over her shoulder and holds a tip of the cape with her left hand a bit coyly upwards. It seems that she supports herself on her elbows. She holds a part of the hem of the cape with her right hand, which rests under her breasts. Underneath the cape the woman wears a tunic, which is adorned with a large brooch. The magnificent bust belongs to the famous Palmyra portraits, which once decorated the closing plates of tombs and today are kept in the important museums of the world, alongside Palmyra itself. Around 3,000 portraits in total have been preserved until today. They are the unique testimonies of a cosmopolitan and wealthy society of the Roman Orient. The Danish Aarhus University is currently working with the Palmyra Portrait Project on a catalogue of works to catalogize the preserved busts and steles. After all, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek owns the largest collection of Palmyra sculptures outside of Syria. Mounted.