Limestone statuette of a boy holding a pyxis and a branch of leaves
Unknown Artist
late 4th century–3rd century BCE
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
Overall: 17 3/4 x 7 3/8 x 4 1/4 in. (45.1 x 18.7 x 10.8 cm)
Classification
Stone Sculpture
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Early Hellenistic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.2778
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming limestone statuette depicts a young boy gracefully holding a pyxis—a small lidded box often used for cosmetics or jewelry a branch laden with leaves, evoking sense of youthful innocence and everyday life in ancient Cyprus. Carved in the late 4th to 3rd century BCE during the Early Hellenistic period, 17¾-inch-tall figure exemplifies Cypriot stone sculpture, a tradition blending local craftsmanship with emerging Greek influences following Alexander the Great's conquest. Acquired as part of the renowned Cesnola Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it offers a window into t...