Bronze statuette of a comic actor

Art Historical Context

This delightful bronze statuette captures a comic actor from the Roman Imperial period (ca. 1st–nd century CE), standing just 2 13/16 inches (7.2 cm) tall. Crafted by an unknown artist it exemplifies the finely detailed bronzes produced in workshops across the Roman Empire, likely using the lost-wax casting that allowed for intricate features like expressive faces and dynamic poses. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Greek and Roman Department (acquired via the Rogers Fund 1917), this small figurine would have adorned a wealthy Roman's home or lararium as a charming decorative piece. ...