Combe, Taylor [Hrsg.]: A description of the collection of ancient Marbles in the British Museum: with engravings (Band 9) (London, 1842)

183

Fig. 4. Height 9 in. Old No. 115. New No. 251.

This head appears to have been broken from a statue, and
derives its interest from the extreme antiquity of its style and
workmanship. The form of the features and the peculiar mode
of treating them are evidences of an exceedingly early school of
art, such as appears to have existed previous to the most ancient
specimens of Athenian coins, themselves of high antiquity, on
which the head of Minerva was probably copied from some
statue of great celebrity. The forms of the mouth and eyes, and
the position of the ear correspond with those upon the coins;
and so also does, in some degree, the adjustment of the hair.
This latter, especially in those portions which appear below the
ear, very strikingly resembles the Egyptian character of head-
dress } and if Grecian art derived its origin from Egypt, its earliest
efforts would, probably, be distinguished by those peculiarities
which characterize the head before us, where we have features
and costume just beginning to escape from the bondage of
Egyptian coldness and want of life.