his portrait conveys an air of modestia and simplicitas that is appropriate for its subject—an upper-class Roman matron. Such portraits are less common than those of Roman men. Like many others, however, this example can be closely dated by its hairstyle, known as the nodus (roll) coiffure, which became popular in Rome during the late first century B.C. Here the roll of hair above the forehead is combined with a bun worn at the back of the head in a markedly conservative mode. This old-fashioned hairstyle fits well with the portrait's visible signs of aging—sunken eyes, slightly sagging skin at the jawline, and indentations at the corners of the mouth. Such details suggest that the sitter wanted to be seen as a traditional and virtuous Roman woman who dedicated herself to her home and family rather than to the latest dictates of high society. The sculpture retains traces of its original painted decoration, most notably on the right eye, where both the iris and the eyelashes are still visible. Brown pigment can also be seen on and around the bun. These features give the portrait an added interest, as it is highly unusual for painted details to survive.