SculptureGreek

Standing Man with Grapes

Description

Almost complete figurine; missing most of proper left arm and some of the grapes. Standing man, nude. Rounded head, bald at top, turned to proper right and slightly downturned. Hair falls in waves at sides down to the shoulder. Short forehead; softly furrowed brow; “squinting” eyes with swollen lids; short nose. Long mustache and beard. Bemused expression. He stands in a slight contrapposto with right leg engaged and left leg bent. The right arm is folded at back, while the left proffers a bunch of grapes, and appears to be draped by a cloth with “swallowtail” folds. Narrow shoulders but muscular torso; visible navel. Small phallus. Three-tiered base with sharp edges, square at front, curved at back. Hollow. Mold-made in a single bivalve mold; likely plaster. Incised detailing. Most of back, except for head and base, cut out as if for enormous venthole; what remains of it has been plastically modeled. Interior was cleaned out with tools; smooth. Join seams visible on interior, but well-hidden on exterior. Fine clay with a few grog inclusions; hard-fired.

Classification

Sculpture

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics