Caption

Fragment of a sarcophagus lid, unknown Italian workshop. Fragment of a sarcophagus lid depicting the face of a child with a round face and prominent cheeks. The depiction is frontal, with almond-shaped eyes, disproportionately large compared to the rest of the face, with carefully sculpted eyelids and pupils. The nose is also large, triangular. The hair above the forehead is gathered in a thick bun. Around the head, curls form harmoniously on both sides, covering the ears. The neck is short and stocky. Based on the figure's appearance, it is difficult to determine the child's gender, although the depiction is portrait in nature. This is a fragment of a rare type of sarcophagus lid, decorated with a frieze of semicircular parapets depicting various figurative scenes and themes, representations of the deceased. The portrait features and attention to physiognomic detail may suggest that this is a depiction of a deceased child; similar Cupid putti heads also decorate this type of sarcophagus lid. 1st half of the 3rd century, Roman Empire 27 BC–476. Sarcophagus lid; bas-relief. Dimensions: height 22 cm, width 22.8 cm, depth 12 cm; height 23 cm with base., A carved stone relief of a child's face set within a rounded rectangular block, shown against a dark gray background and resting on a flat light-gray surface and a dark base; the carving is pale off-white with subtle gray and beige toning, the child's features include chubby cheeks, closed or partially closed eyes, a small nose and lips, and wavy hair framed around the face with carved curls, and the stone shows texture variations and slight discoloration in areas.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A05_428

License type

Rights managed

Available size

38.2Mb (1.3Mb) / 11.5in x 12.9in / 3447 x 3877 (300dpi)

Keywords

Fragment sarcophagus lid unknown Italian workshop sarcophagus lid depicting face child round face prominent cheeks depiction frontal almond-shaped eyes disproportionately large compared rest carefully sculpted eyelids pupils nose also large triangular hair forehead gathered thick bun head curls form harmoniously sides covering ears neck short stocky Based figure's appearance difficult determine child's gender portrait nature fragment rare type decorated frieze semicircular parapets various figurative scenes themes representations deceased portrait features attention physiognomic detail suggest deceased child Cupid putti heads also decorate type 1st half 3rd century Roman Empire 27 BC–476 Sarcophagus lid bas-relief Dimensions height 22 cm width 22.8 cm depth 12 cm height 23 cm base carved stone relief child's face set within rounded rectangular block shown dark gray background resting flat light-gray surface dark base carving pale off-white subtle gray beige toning child's features include chubby cheeks closed partially eyes small nose lips wavy hair framed carved curls stone texture variations slight discoloration areas.