Portrait Bust of a Woman

Place of OriginLikely Italy

Datec. 90 CE

DimensionsOverall: H: 19 3/4 in. W: 15 in. D: 9 in.
Chin to Forehead: 6 3/8 in.

MediumMarble

ClassificationSculpture

Credit LineGift of The Georgia Welles Apollo Society

Object number

2016.19

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

DescriptionThis bust of a mature Roman woman is carved from a single block of white marble and retains its integral cubic base. Her head turns slightly to one side. The woman’s expression is dignified, with realistic facial features such as terse lips and rounded cheeks. Her elaborate corkscrew hairstyle, created using a running drill, reflects the high Flavian fashion of ca. 90 CE. The surface has undergone varying cleaning techniques—acid-cleaning on the hair and brush-cleaning on the face. Restorations include repairs to the chignon and a possible later drilled cavity at the crown.

Label TextThis sculpted bust depicts an older woman, a matron, gazing off towards her right. The relatively advanced age of the woman is rare for this type of portrait, which can be dated on the basis of the hair style. Ornate, corkscrew curls were fashionable for women of the imperial court during the Flavian Empire (68–96 CE). The ability to render this coiffure in stone was greatly enabled by the development of the running drill, a tool that allowed sculptors to create deep, precise holes with significantly less effort than before.