Copy of a Greek work of the second century B.C.

During the Hellenistic period, artists became concerned with the accurate representation of childhood, old age, and even physical deformity. The range of subject matter was extended to include genre-like figures from the fringes of society. Fine, large-scale statues of fishermen, peasants, and aged courtesans became valued religious dedications, sometimes placed in a park-like setting within the
sanctuary of the god. Although this statue is known familiarly as The Old Market Woman, it probably represents an aged courtesan on her way to a festival of Dionysos, the god of wine. Her delicate sandals and the ample material in her thin, elaborately draped chiton are a far cry from the rough garb of a peasant woman. The ivy wreath on her head marks her association with Dionysos, and the basket of fruit and the two chickens must be dedicatory gifts to the god or simply her own provisions for a long day of celebration. Veneration of Dionysos was widespread
during the Hellenistic period, and ancient literary descriptions give an idea of the extraordinary processions and festivals held in his honor. The flattened composition of the figure is typical of sculpture created in the late second century B.C. The original work may have been dedicated in a sanctuary of Dionysos. The Roman copy could have decorated a garden.

Found in Rome, September 1907, on land belonging to the Congregazione degli Operai della Divina Pietà (Robinson 1909, p. 206).

September 1907, found on property belonging to the Congregazione degli Opera della Divina Pietà, Rome; after 1907, purchased by A. and A. Jandolo from the Congregazione; acquired March 1909, purchased from A. and A. Jandolo, Rome.

Mariani, L. 1907. "La Vecchia del Mercato." Bullettino della Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma: 257-66, pl. VII.

Vaglieri, D. 1907. In Notizie degli scavi di antichità: fasc. 9, 525, figs. 45, 46.

Robinson, Edward. 1909. "The Old Market Woman." Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art 4(11): pp. 201, 204-6.

Reinach, S. 1910. Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine. Vol. 4. Paris: E. Leroux, p. 349, no. 7.

Richter, G.M.A. 1932. In P. Arndt and G. Lippold, Brunn-Bruckmnann's Denkmäler griechischer und römischer Sculptur. Munich: F. Bruckmann, pl. 730.

Waldhauer, O. 1946. "Myron's Anus Evria and the Drunken Woman in Munich." American Journal of Archaeology 50: 244-46.

Richter, G.M.A. 1954. Catalogue of Greek Sculptures. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, p. 111, no. 221, pl. CLIV.

Bieber, M. 1961. The Sculpture of the Hellenistic Age. Rev. ed. New York: Columbia University Press, p. 141, n. 50, fig. 590.

Richter, Gisela M.A. 1970. "The Department of Greek and Roman Art: Triumphs and Tribulations." Metropolitan Museum Journal 3: pp. 75, 78, fig. 8.

Vermeule, C.C. 1980. Greek Art: Socrates to Sulla, from the Peloponnesian Wars to the Rise of Julius Ceasar. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, p. 91, no. 121.

Laubscher, H.P. 1982. Fischer und Landleute: Studien zur hellenistischen Genreplastik. Mainz: P. von Zabern, pp. 8, 10, 32ff., 43, 86, 93ff., 116, no. 38, 121, pls. 26, 2, and 27, 1, 2.

Bonacasa, N. 1983. "Socialità e arte nel 'soggetto di genere' ellenistico." In Alessandria e il mondo ellenistico-romano: Studi in onore di Achille Adriani. Rome: "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, vol. 1, p. 128.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1987. Greece and Rome. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, no. 54, pp. 10, 74.

Wrede, H. 1991. "Matronen im Kult des Dionysos: Zur hellenistischen 'Genreplastik.'" Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archaeologischen Instituts, Roemische Abteilung 98: 174, n. 72, 176-77, pl. 43, 1, 2.

Reusser, C. 1993. Der Fidestempel auf dem Kapitol in Rom und seine Ausstattung. Rome: "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, pp. 185-96, 240-42, no. 9, figs. 102-6.

Abramitis, Dorothy H. 1997. "Statue of an Old Woman: A Case Study in the Effects of Restorations on the Visual Aspect of Sculpture." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 55(3): pp. 30-31, 33-37, figs. 1-3, 5-7.

Bol, P.C. 1997. Liebieghaus-Museum alter Plastik: Führer durch die Sammlungen. Griechische und römische Plastik. Frankfurt am Main: Liebieghaus, p. 188, fig. 122.

Picón, Carlos A., et al. 2007. Art of the Classical World in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, no. 432, pp. 371, 490.

Leona, Marco. 2009. "The Materiality of Art: Scientific Research in Art History and Art Conservation at the Metropolitan Museum." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 67(1): p. 7, fig. 7.