Acquired in Egypt by George Baldwin, British Consul-General 1785–96

This monumental head gives an impression of sovereign calm and power, even though the veil that once covered the top and back of the head is now missing. Although the features are cast in a thoroughly classical style typical of the late fourth century B.C., the face is stamped with enough individuality to identify it as a portrait. In all probability, it represents a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, that succession of Macedonian Greeks who ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C. Most recently, the head has been identified as Arsinoe II, who ruled together with her brother, Ptolemy II, from 278 B.C. until her death in 270 B.C. Not only was the queen part of a dynastic ruler cult during her life, she was also transformed into an independent deity by her brother after her death. She was worshiped as an Egyptian goddess in association with Isis and also separately as a Greek goddess, with her own sanctuaries and festivals. This strongly idealized head, which resembles classical images of Hera and Demeter, was probably associated with the latter cult.

Acquired in Egypt by George Baldwin, British consul-general 1785-96; sale, George Baldwin Collection, Cauty, London, May 8-9, 1828; William Richard Hamilton, London, and descendants, 1828-1976; on loan to The British Museum, London, 1953-76; sale, Sotheby's, London, July 12-13, 1976, lot 520; Mrs. Ariel Herrmann, New York, 1976-early 1980s; [McAlpine Gallery, London, early to mid-1980s]; [Thomas Colville, New York]; [Acanthus Gallery, New York]

The Society of Dilettanti. 1835. Specimens of Antient Sculpture, Aegyptian, Atruscan, Greek and Roman: Selected from Different Collections in Great Britain. London: T. Payne and J. White, Vol. II, p. lxvii, pl. xxxix.

Vermeule, C.C. and Bothmer, D. von. 1956. "Notes on a New Edition of Michaelis: Ancient Marbles in Great Britain. Part 2." American Journal of Archaeology 60: 334.

Kyrieleis, H. 1975. Bildnisse der Ptolemaer. Berlin: Mann, pp. 84-85, 93-94, 180, no. J9, pl. 78:1-4.

Sotheby's, London. Sale cat., July 12-13, 1976, lot 520.

Vermeule, C.C. 1977. "Vita: Berenike II. Liberated Queen: ca. 273-221 B.C." Harvard Magazine (July-August), pp. 34-35 and color pl.

Vermeule, C.C. 1978-1979. In The J.Paul Getty Museum Journal 6-7, pp. 100-101, no. 12.

Picon, Carlos A. 2002. "Recent Acquisitions: A Selection, 2001-2002." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 60(2): p. 8.

Picón, Carlos A., et al. 2007. Art of the Classical World in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, no. 220, pp. 190, 448.