Artworks

Roman Neo-Attic marble peplophoros. Standing with her weight on her right leg, the left leg breaking the strong vertical folds of her Doric peplos which is pinned at the shoulders and falls loosely over her torso, accentuating the breasts. A thin border along the edges of the garment, a small weight hanging from the third fold of the peplos's upper section. She holds a garland of flowers in her left hand which is held by her side, elbow slightly bent. Carved in fine-grained marble. Some iron staining to the joint where her right arm would have been attached.

The term Neo-Attic is used for sculpture that harks back to originals of the earlier Greek Classical Period. Much of this revival work was made in Greece for export to Rome. This example recalls the 'severe style' of 470-460 BC. The garland of flowers is likely a symbolic offering.

Provenance

Private collection, Paris, France; acquired 1950s
Princeton University Art Museum, USA; acquired from Charles Ede in 2016

Literature

For larger scale versions cf. Flemming Friborg et al., Ancient Art to Post-Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen (London, 2004), p.84, no.58.
Also, Cornelius C. Vermeule, Greek and Roman Sculpture in America (Berkeley, 1981), no.13, p.39 and no.14, p.40 and colour plate 3.
For a Greek original, dated 470-460 BC, cf. Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi (Syracuse, 1987), p.37. 

Publications

Connaissance des Arts, Sommaire 101, 'Quatre décorateurs exposent leurs idées' (July, 1960), pp.48-51, a review of the annual ‘Salon des arts ménagers' where it was featured in a room-set on the theme of 'quarante siècles de création'.