296
Head of a Woman
Greece; 2nd half 4th c. BC
The head is part of a relief and it stands out from the background in three-quarter profile. The thick wavy hair frames a fine face whose calm and melancholy beauty is emphasized by large eyes with heavy, slightly lowered eyelids. The strong eyebrows continue onto the nose in an uninterrupted line which is typical for the Classical period of Greek sculpture. However the small soft mouth, the full chin and sad expression reveal the features of the Hellenistic period. Above the almost unmarked ears there is a hole which was probably once used to mount jewelry or stucco decoration.
The head is part of a tomb relief from the 2nd half of the 4th c. BC.