Glass cameo plaque fragment

Unknown

1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent deep purple with opaque white overlay. Flat underside; slightly undulating surface with relief decoration; small section of left edge with rounded upper lip. In relief in white, head of figure turned to left, with long wavy hair concealing proper left ear, wearing tunic in broad bands over shoulders; behind proper left shoulder part of unidentified object; to left of figure, part of a long staff. Broken on three sides with weathered edges; many internal strain cracks; dulling, slight pitting, patches of thick black weathering and brilliant iridescence. The bust, previously described as that of a clean-shaven man, may represent a woman or goddess. If the object behind her left shoulder is a bow or quiver, the figure could even be identified as Artemis (Diana).

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917