DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55337#0220
io6
FEMALE STATUE
female portrait are known, it is natural to regard it as a private
portrait.1
The modern restorer, who added the hands, misunderstood the
original motive. The statue certainly represented originally a woman
in the attitude of prayer, a motive which, especially at the beginning
of the imperial period, was extremely popular, probably as a conse-
quence of Augustus’s attempt to resuscitate the old ‘ Pietas ’.2 The
schematic but able treatment of folds would well suit the first
‘ Empire style ’. So the original statue probably comes from the
time of Augustus : but in the third century a. d. it was used again,
retouched and provided with a fresh name. The Greek original
statue to which this type of a worshipper goes back, is referred by
Hekler to Euphranor.
IO?
HEAD OF AN EMPRESS OF THE TIME OF ELAGABALUS.
(Hoikham Hall.)
[Only head and beginning of neck ancient. Marble. Height
of head 0 25. Nose restored in marble. Surface has been severely
cleaned, marble has alabaster-like spots. Pupils drilled in antiquity.]
A young woman with very broad forehead and thick lips is repre-
sented. The hairdressing points to a.d. 220-30. There is a replica
of this head, also with restored nose and placed on an antique bust
which does not belong to it, at Petworth, which we reproduce on the
same plate as the Hoikham head and in profile in fig. 55, after no. 104.3 *
Thus it is proved that it is a famous woman, and young as she is,
certainly a member of the imperial house. The name ‘ Julia Soaemia ’
is possible, but coin-types of this period with their untrustworthy
variations are not applicable for closer definition. Probably it is
one of Elagabalus’s wives.
(Michaelis, p. 322, no. 60.)
1 It has, however, some resemblance to
the head of a young woman in the Capito-
line. Stuart Jones, ib., pl. 48, no. 58
(p. 205). Cf. for the hairdressing, ib.,
pl- 75. n0- 69 (P- 3°7)-
2 Ten such representations are known in
the Vatican, Louvre, Berlin, &c. Hekler
in Miinchener archaol. Studien, pp. 134 f.,
236, figs. 5-7 ; Helbig, Fiihrer 3, nos. 241,
1038, 1258 ; Guida Ruesch, 785. A statue
of this type in the Vatican was found with
two statues of Augustus in the Basilica
of Otricoli. Amelung, Vat. Katal., ii,
pl. 70, no. 352 (p. 538).
3 Margaret Wyndham, op. cit., pl. 66.
FEMALE STATUE
female portrait are known, it is natural to regard it as a private
portrait.1
The modern restorer, who added the hands, misunderstood the
original motive. The statue certainly represented originally a woman
in the attitude of prayer, a motive which, especially at the beginning
of the imperial period, was extremely popular, probably as a conse-
quence of Augustus’s attempt to resuscitate the old ‘ Pietas ’.2 The
schematic but able treatment of folds would well suit the first
‘ Empire style ’. So the original statue probably comes from the
time of Augustus : but in the third century a. d. it was used again,
retouched and provided with a fresh name. The Greek original
statue to which this type of a worshipper goes back, is referred by
Hekler to Euphranor.
IO?
HEAD OF AN EMPRESS OF THE TIME OF ELAGABALUS.
(Hoikham Hall.)
[Only head and beginning of neck ancient. Marble. Height
of head 0 25. Nose restored in marble. Surface has been severely
cleaned, marble has alabaster-like spots. Pupils drilled in antiquity.]
A young woman with very broad forehead and thick lips is repre-
sented. The hairdressing points to a.d. 220-30. There is a replica
of this head, also with restored nose and placed on an antique bust
which does not belong to it, at Petworth, which we reproduce on the
same plate as the Hoikham head and in profile in fig. 55, after no. 104.3 *
Thus it is proved that it is a famous woman, and young as she is,
certainly a member of the imperial house. The name ‘ Julia Soaemia ’
is possible, but coin-types of this period with their untrustworthy
variations are not applicable for closer definition. Probably it is
one of Elagabalus’s wives.
(Michaelis, p. 322, no. 60.)
1 It has, however, some resemblance to
the head of a young woman in the Capito-
line. Stuart Jones, ib., pl. 48, no. 58
(p. 205). Cf. for the hairdressing, ib.,
pl- 75. n0- 69 (P- 3°7)-
2 Ten such representations are known in
the Vatican, Louvre, Berlin, &c. Hekler
in Miinchener archaol. Studien, pp. 134 f.,
236, figs. 5-7 ; Helbig, Fiihrer 3, nos. 241,
1038, 1258 ; Guida Ruesch, 785. A statue
of this type in the Vatican was found with
two statues of Augustus in the Basilica
of Otricoli. Amelung, Vat. Katal., ii,
pl. 70, no. 352 (p. 538).
3 Margaret Wyndham, op. cit., pl. 66.