Limestone head of a beardless man
Unknown Artist
ca. 530–520 BCE
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
H.: 6 x 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 in. (15.2 x 9.5 x 14.6 cm)
Classification
Stone Sculpture
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Archaic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.2518
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite limestone head of a be man, carved around 530–520 BCE, originates from ancient Cyprus during the Archaic period. Measuring just 6 inches high, it captures the youthful features of its subject with a serene, idealized expression, reflecting the Cypriot sculptors' mastery of stone. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek Roman Art department, it entered the collection through the Cesnola Collection purchased by subscription in 187476—one of the museum's earliest Cypriot treasures. Limestone, abundant on the island, was a favored medium for such durable, portable sculptures...