Woman in Anguish
Figure Bust
ca. 1515-1520 (made)
ca. 1515-1520 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This remarkable sculpture in alabaster of a woman in agony has been the subject of varying interpretations. The woman is shown in half length, with her head turned upwards and to the right and her long waving hair bound by a jewelled fillet. She is shown wearing a loose ruched robe with a braided collar which has slipped from her right shoulder leaving her right breast bare.
While previously identified as a Virtue, the figure's nudity, emotion and incomplete form set it apart from conventional representations suggesting instead an antique subject. In particular the woman may represent Lucretia, a legendary figure whose rape and suicide triggered a revolution which led to the formation of the Roman Republic.
While previously identified as a Virtue, the figure's nudity, emotion and incomplete form set it apart from conventional representations suggesting instead an antique subject. In particular the woman may represent Lucretia, a legendary figure whose rape and suicide triggered a revolution which led to the formation of the Roman Republic.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Woman in Anguish (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Alabaster |
| Brief description | Figure bust, alabaster, Woman in Anguish, depicting a half-length figure, circle of Cristoforo Solari, Italy (Lombardy), ca. 1515-20 |
| Physical description | Figure bust depicting a Virtue, possibly Faith. Half-length figure, gazing upwards, the long waving hair bound by a jewelled fillet; the loose closely pleated robe has slipped from the right shoulder, leaving the breast bare. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | WOMAN IN ANGUISH
About 1515-20
The semi-naked figure, dishevelled and distraught, probably represents a classical subject. Works like this, designed to evoke sculpture from the classical world, were placed in a scholar's study, often alongside genuine antiques. Collectors could not always distinguish antique work from modern, and some sculptures were doubtless made as deliberate fakes.
Italy, Lombardy
Alabaster
Museum no. 219-1879(2008) |
| Object history | Bought by J.C Robinson in 1879. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This remarkable sculpture in alabaster of a woman in agony has been the subject of varying interpretations. The woman is shown in half length, with her head turned upwards and to the right and her long waving hair bound by a jewelled fillet. She is shown wearing a loose ruched robe with a braided collar which has slipped from her right shoulder leaving her right breast bare. While previously identified as a Virtue, the figure's nudity, emotion and incomplete form set it apart from conventional representations suggesting instead an antique subject. In particular the woman may represent Lucretia, a legendary figure whose rape and suicide triggered a revolution which led to the formation of the Roman Republic. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 219-1879 |
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| Record created | February 12, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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