Antique Statue of a Priestess
ca. 1820
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-1045
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Antique Statue of a Priest Created around 1820 by Felice Giani, a prominent Italian artist (1758–1823), this evocative *Antique Statue of a Priestess* captures the timeless allure of classical antiquity. Giani, key figure in the Neoclassical movement, drew inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman art, blending historical reverence with the refined aesthetics of his era. As a sculptor of figurative works, he often evoked the grace and solemnity of ancient deities and priestesses, figures central to religious rituals and mythology. In the early 19th century, amid Europe's fascination with ...