Marble female figure
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Technical analyses: Multiband imaging, optical microscopy
This reclining female figure is complete with repaired breaks below the right knee and ankle and damage at the back of the head. The lyre-shaped head is tilted back with a broad rounded chin, flat crown, and a long slender, well-centered nose. There are brownish-red particles at the top of the head. An incised groove delineates the long cylindrical neck from the torso with slightly slopping angular shoulders. Three horizontal grooves define the arms, folded left over right (without fingers) below a lightly rounded chest above a flat belly. A thin shallow incision delineates the belly from the pubic zone which is defined by arched incisions at the tops of the thighs. The hips are slightly rounded and the knees are bent. A deep groove delineates the legs up to the knees and upper calves which are separated. The legs join together again at the ankles. From this point the disproportionately large feet splay outward. Slight, vertical incisions indicate toes on both feet.
Sandy MacGillivray, Dorothy Abramitis and Federico Carò
This reclining female figure is complete with repaired breaks below the right knee and ankle and damage at the back of the head. The lyre-shaped head is tilted back with a broad rounded chin, flat crown, and a long slender, well-centered nose. There are brownish-red particles at the top of the head. An incised groove delineates the long cylindrical neck from the torso with slightly slopping angular shoulders. Three horizontal grooves define the arms, folded left over right (without fingers) below a lightly rounded chest above a flat belly. A thin shallow incision delineates the belly from the pubic zone which is defined by arched incisions at the tops of the thighs. The hips are slightly rounded and the knees are bent. A deep groove delineates the legs up to the knees and upper calves which are separated. The legs join together again at the ankles. From this point the disproportionately large feet splay outward. Slight, vertical incisions indicate toes on both feet.
Sandy MacGillivray, Dorothy Abramitis and Federico Carò
Artwork Details
- Title: Marble female figure
- Period: Early Cycladic II
- Date: ca. 2700–2500 BCE
- Culture: Cycladic
- Medium: Marble
- Dimensions: Height: 8 11/16 in. (22.1 cm)
Width: 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Depth: 1 5/8 in. 4.1 cm)
Thickness: 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm) - Classification: Stone Sculpture
- Credit Line: Leonard N. Stern Collection, Loan from the Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Culture
- Object Number: L.2022.38.20
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
Content Notice
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.