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Head of a Julio-Claudian woman, possibly Livia
Roman
Imperial Period
about A.D. 14–40
Medium/Technique
Greywacke
Dimensions
Overall: 24 × 21.6 × 20.3 cm (9 7/16 × 8 1/2 × 8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Cornelius C. Vermeule III in honor of John J. Herrmann, Jr.
Accession Number1999.583
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsSculpture
DescriptionPortrait of an Imperial lady, most likely a portrait of Livia (58 B.C. - A.D. 29) made after the death of Augustus in A.D. 14, although identifications of Antonia Minor (36 B.C. - A.D. 37) and Julia (39 B.C. - A.D. 14) have also been made.
The hair is twisted at the back of the head and the neck is broken off diagonally below the chin. The distance from ear to ear is ca. 15 cm and from the root of the nose to the back of the head ca. 21.5 cm. The portrait was intentionally damaged in antiquity, particularly on nose, chin, and proper right side of the hair and at the earlobes. The mass of hair has been abraded here and there and the bun at the back of the head appears to have been originally flat, perhaps due to insufficient stone and/or because the head was designed to be placed against a wall or in a niche. Pitting is visible on the cheeks and forehead.
The hair is twisted at the back of the head and the neck is broken off diagonally below the chin. The distance from ear to ear is ca. 15 cm and from the root of the nose to the back of the head ca. 21.5 cm. The portrait was intentionally damaged in antiquity, particularly on nose, chin, and proper right side of the hair and at the earlobes. The mass of hair has been abraded here and there and the bun at the back of the head appears to have been originally flat, perhaps due to insufficient stone and/or because the head was designed to be placed against a wall or in a niche. Pitting is visible on the cheeks and forehead.
Provenance19th century, said to have been in a French collection [see note]. By 1994, Jean-Luc Chalmin, Geneva. By 1994, Brian T. Aitken, Acanthus Gallery, New York; 1995, sold by Acanthus Gallery to Cornelius C. Vermeule, III (b. 1925 - d. 2008), Cambridge, MA; 1999, gift of Cornelius C. Vermeule to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 15, 1999)
NOTE: According to the donor at the time of the gift.
NOTE: According to the donor at the time of the gift.