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Bust of a Hermaphrodite National Museums Liverpool

$ 14.50

4.5

(584)

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Description

Bust of a hermaphodite. Despite its poor condition especially on the surface of the marble the head is distinct for the delicate carving of the mouth and the eyes. There is no visible hair for the subject and it is difficult to determine whether it's a man or a woman, an ambiguity suitable to the subject of hermaphrodite. The headress means it can be identified as a hermaphrodite as it is found in many similar Roman types. The headress is rising high on the head and folded over a short veil, kept in place by a flat band running across the forehead. Similar Roman types were often parts of double herms. Bartman believed that the Ince piece was broken from a herm, although the state of finish at the back does not indicate a double herm. Bartman compared it to a hemaphrodite statuette from a villa outside Pompei, especially because of its bland asexuality. The marble has a granular surface that indicates extreme weathering, the nose has been broken but reattached. There are restorations on the entire bust, the outer edges and lower part of the veil on both sides, the nose. The outer edge of the veil on the right were once doweled in place but have now disappeared.