Marble female figure

Technical analysis: Multiband imaging, X-ray radiography, optical microscopy


This marble reclining female figure is complete except for minor losses at the upper right tip of the head where there are small areas of fill, and at the left jaw, upper right shoulder, left breast and left thigh. It has a backward tilted, lyre-shaped head with a broad rounded chin, flat crown and long, well-centered nose in high relief. The back is arched and the knees bent. Curved, shallow incisions delineate the figure’s long tapering neck from its head and torso. It has gently sloping, rounded shoulders and arms that project slightly at the sides. An incision on either side distinguishes the upper arms from the figure’s chest and three horizontal incisions define the elongated, slender forearms, folded tightly left over right below two, widely-spaced, rather full conical breasts and above a small belly. A thin shallow incision separates the belly from the pubic triangle and shallow, curved lines mark the tops of the thighs. A short, fine incision denotes the vulva. The figure’s slightly bowed, bent legs are joined only at the ankles, where a short horizontal incision delineates the top of each outsplayed, arched foot with finely incised toes. A fine, horizontal incision at the front, sides and back of each leg marks the bend at the knee. At the back a fine, horizontal incision delineates the head from the neck, a v-shaped incision delineates the neck from the torso, and a fine vertical incision marks the spine and buttocks leading into the wide incision that separates the legs. Fine horizontal incisions indicate the backs of the knees and ankles.

Sandy MacGillivray, Dorothy Abramitis and Federico Carò