Roman statue of Artemis, c.1st BC-1st AD
Marble
Height: 110cm
12500 C
Copyright The Artist
€ 650,000
Carved from Parian marble, this powerful sculpture shows Artemis, goddess of the hunt, swathed in thick drapery formed into a short chiton with himation around her waist, her arms bare....
Carved from Parian marble, this powerful sculpture shows Artemis, goddess of the hunt, swathed in thick drapery formed into a short chiton with himation around her waist, her arms bare. The chiton is pinned at the shoulders, and the ends of the tied himation fall in vertical folds down the outer right side of her hip and in front of her left thigh. An animal pelt with cloven feet is draped over a tree stump against which her right leg is supported, and probably represents a felled deer skin, known as a nebris; one of her attributes. A fragment with surface wear and scratches that have been toned down, the right arm reattached.
Artemis, known as Diana to the Romans, was the twin sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was often depicted with a bow and arrow, denoting her as goddess of the hunt. Deers and dogs were sacred to her, and she is often shown hunting the former with the latter. Though a virgin, she was worshipped as a goddess of childbirth, and watched over women in labour. She was protector of both children and wild animals, and is associated with untamed nature, which, emphasised by her own chastity, shows her as a goddess reluctant to be tamed by man.
Artemis, known as Diana to the Romans, was the twin sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was often depicted with a bow and arrow, denoting her as goddess of the hunt. Deers and dogs were sacred to her, and she is often shown hunting the former with the latter. Though a virgin, she was worshipped as a goddess of childbirth, and watched over women in labour. She was protector of both children and wild animals, and is associated with untamed nature, which, emphasised by her own chastity, shows her as a goddess reluctant to be tamed by man.
Provenance
with Kamer & Cie, Paris, France, and published by them in 1975
Private collection, France; acquired from the above
Exhibitions
Kamer & Cie, 34 Rue de Seine, Paris, France, 'Qualité', 6th November-13th December 1975, no.10Literature
For a later Roman copy of this type compare examples in the Louvre, Paris, France, object number Ma2906 and Ma 3435,and an example in the Walters Art Museum, USA, accession number 23.82
