Upper right corner of a marble sarcophagus: head of a Black African and a maenad

Art Historical Context

This exquisite marble fragment, carved from fine Phrygian marble, captures the upper right corner of Roman sarcophagus from the first quarter of the 3 century CE, during the Mid-Imperial Severan period. It features two striking heads: one of a Black African figure with distinctive features, and a maenad, a fervent follower of the god Dionysus known for her ecstatic, flowing hair and dynamic expression. Measuring just 7 x 9¾ x 7½ inches with a relief depth of 3½, this piece exemplifies the intricate stone sculpture typical of elite Roman funerary art. Sarcophagi like this were popular among th...