Portrait bust of Roman woman. Livia (?)

Summary

The bust is made of white marble. Most of the nose has been broken off, and there is surface damage to the mouth and cheeks. Dark paint in the eyes is still visible to the naked eye; the irises and pupils stand out very clearly.

In 1955 the bust was washed, and the the plaster restorations were removed. The bust has been examined with Visible Induced Luminescence, but showed no traces of the use of Egyptian Blue.

Description of object

The bust is attired in both a chiton and a himation. Only a small section of the himation over the left shoulder has been rendered. The bust consists of the shoulders as well as the very beginning of the arms. The head is turned toward the right and it tilts forward. The hairstyle is a variant of the so-called nodus-type.

Paint in the eyes has been partially preserved. The irises and the pupils are visible. Most of the nose has been broken off. There is surface damage to the mouth and the cheeks. The right ear has been broken. The edge of the bust and the edge of the garment are both bruised.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Technical imaging

• VIL

Technical imaging

VIL: No signs of the use of Egyptian Blue.

Bibliography

F. Poulsen (1951), Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 616.

F. Johansen (1994), Catalogue. Roman Portraits I. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 35.