Caption

Tragic mask, terracotta, tragic/theater mask. Tragic mask depicting a male face, likely a decorative element antefix?. The lower part with the beard underside edges flat is set at a near-perpendicular angle to the facial part and forms the base. Realistic theatre-mask features: protruding cheekbones, deep furrows around mouth and eyes; mouth wide open, lower lip almost horizontal, upper lip arched. Large, deep-set eyeballs have circular cut-out holes, positioned at slightly different heights right higher than left. Slightly hooked nose with horizontal wrinkles; thick eyebrows; vertical wrinkles at center of forehead; convex forehead. Above the forehead is a flat, high onkos with schematically marked locks of hair, bounded at top and sides by folds of cloth. Light orange clay, unevenly fired at the fracture turning red. Traces of polychrome—red, on the cheek, black, on the beard and hair. Upper right part above the forehead has been reconstructed. 4th–3rd century BC, Southern Italy; mask., A worn sculpted mask fragment showing a stylized human face with a prominent forehead, deep-set eye sockets with holes, a pronounced nose, furrowed brows, an open mouth, and a textured beard; the surface shows chips, cracks, and layered contours; colors visible include shades of beige, tan, light brown, gray, and hints of reddish-brown, all set against a solid gray background with a subtle reflective surface beneath the object.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A02_463

License type

Rights managed

Available size

85.3Mb (1.6Mb) / 16.6in x 19.9in / 4988 x 5974 (300dpi)

Keywords

Tragic mask terracotta tragic theater mask Tragic mask depicting male face decorative element antefix lower part beard underside edges flat set near-perpendicular angle facial part forms base Realistic theatre-mask features protruding cheekbones deep furrows mouth eyes mouth wide open lower lip almost horizontal upper lip arched Large deep-set eyeballs circular cut- holes positioned slightly different heights right higher left Slightly hooked nose horizontal wrinkles thick eyebrows vertical wrinkles center forehead convex forehead flat high onkos schematically marked locks hair bounded top sides folds cloth Light orange clay unevenly fired fracture turning red Traces polychrome cheek black beard Upper right part reconstructed 4th–3rd century BC Southern Italy mask worn sculpted mask fragment showing stylized human face prominent forehead deep-set eye sockets pronounced nose furrowed brows open mouth textured beard surface chips cracks layered contours colors visible include shades beige tan light brown gray hints reddish-brown solid gray background subtle reflective surface beneath object.