Painted limestone funerary stele with a seated man and two standing figures

Unknown

late 4th–early 3rd century BCE · Limestone, paint · Greek and Roman Art

A man with ochre flesh and pale yellow garment is seated in the center on a raised stool. In a traditional gesture of farewell, he clasps the hand of a tall woman dressed in a pale chiton and himation. Another man wearing a dark violet himation stands behind him. The background is divided vertically into two areas, grey on the left and violet on the right. The style and subject matter of this quiet, well-balanced scene derive from Greek grave reliefs of the 4th century B.C. Although this stele was found resting against the wall in an underground tomb, its large size and the tenon cut at the bottom suggest that it was originally set in a base, above ground.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 4th–early 3rd century BCE

Medium

Limestone, paint

Culture

Greek

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904