Two terracotta busts

4th century BCE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 162

These busts, identified as Persephone or possibly Demeter, depict a goddess wearing a polos (headdress). As is typical of such Sicilian terracottas, they do not represent the figure's arms or breasts, but the face and the hair with its streaming locks and curls are powerfully rendered. Originally, they were adorned with earrings, as indicated by the holes in the ear lobes. They were probably painted and gilded and were presumably set up as votive offerings in sanctuaries.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Two terracotta busts
Period: Late Classical
Date: 4th century BCE
Culture: Greek, Sicilian
Medium: Terracotta
Dimensions: Overall (1994.600.1): 18 3/8 x 15 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (46.6 x 39.4 x 16.5 cm)
Overall (1994.600.2): 18 9/16 x 15 x 6 in. (47.2 x 38.1 x 15.2 cm)
Classification: Terracottas
Credit Line: Gift of Bronson Pinchot, in honor of June DeLong, 1994
Object Number: 1994.600.1, .2
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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