Roman torso of Isis-Aphrodite, Probably Alexandria, c.1st century BC
Marble
Height: 28cm
11185 EL
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Torso of the syncretic goddess Isis-Aphrodite, carved from a fine-grained marble. She is shown bending down in the act of binding or untying her sandal with her right hand, the...
Torso of the syncretic goddess Isis-Aphrodite, carved from a fine-grained marble. She is shown bending down in the act of binding or untying her sandal with her right hand, the crouching pose producing wrinkles on the abdomen which are beautifully rendered in a naturalistic manner. The back is carved with notable sensitivity, with two dimples above her buttocks, and soft musculature showing beneath the smooth skin. Two short locks of braided hair fall onto her right shoulder. Some areas of wear to the surface, patches of encrustation over the broken areas.
In the late 3rd century BC an unknown sculptor depicted Aphrodite standing on one leg, reaching down to untie her sandal (or perhaps to adjust or put it on, depending on your school of thought. The goddess is caught in a vulnerable and fleeting moment, frozen in time so that the viewer can admire the beauty of the contorted yet graceful body from every angle. This sculptural type became increasingly popular in antiquity, and was copied throughout both the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. The version we have here is among the finest examples.
The locks of hair are reminiscent of the Egyptian goddess Isis, Egypt’s equivalent of Aphrodite, giving us the syncretic identity of the sculpture.
In the late 3rd century BC an unknown sculptor depicted Aphrodite standing on one leg, reaching down to untie her sandal (or perhaps to adjust or put it on, depending on your school of thought. The goddess is caught in a vulnerable and fleeting moment, frozen in time so that the viewer can admire the beauty of the contorted yet graceful body from every angle. This sculptural type became increasingly popular in antiquity, and was copied throughout both the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. The version we have here is among the finest examples.
The locks of hair are reminiscent of the Egyptian goddess Isis, Egypt’s equivalent of Aphrodite, giving us the syncretic identity of the sculpture.
Provenance
Morse CollectionCharles Ede Ltd, London, UK; acquired from the above 3rd December 1973
Colin McFadyean, UK; acquired from the above 1974, inventory ref. A14
Private collection, Kensington, London; acquired May 2008
