Seated boy
Unknown Artist
4th century BCE
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Terracottas
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Cypro-Classical II
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.1603
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming terracotta figurine, *Seated Boy*, hails from Cyprus during the Cypro-Class II period in the 4th century. Standing just 4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm) tall, it captures a young boy in a relaxed seated pose, likely crafted as a votive offering for a sanctuary or household shrine. Terracotta, fired clay molded or hand-built, was a favored medium in ancient Cyprus for its accessibility and durability, allowing artisans to produce affordable yet expressive figures for everyday devotion. In Cypriot culture, blending Greek, Phoenician, and Near Eastern influences, such figurines held deep rel...