Sarcophagus with Muses

Sarcophagus with Muses

Marble

A fragment of a large muse sarcophagus with standing relief figures of two of the nine muses, identifiable because of their attributes as Thalia (muse of comedy) on the left and Euterpe (muse of music) on the right. Between the two goddesses is a comedic theatrical mask sitting on a corbel while Thalia holds a fragment of her characteristic shepherd's staff. Euterpe has a fragmentary flute in her right hand. She usually holds the tibiae or pipes separately, one in each hand, but the left flute is missing along with the left hand. Above them is a ledge with a square profile and behind them is a theatrical curtain (parapetasma). On the left-hand side, the piece is broken along the edge of Thalia's body. The break to the right juts out and includes Euterpe's left arm while the break along the bottom occurs just below the calves of the two figures. The marble is coarse-grained with blue-grey seams. All of the surface of this large fragment shows wear and abrasion probably resulting from exposure to weather during the time it formed part of the wall of a house in Rome. Function: Beginning in the second century AD, carved stone sarcophagi were used by wealthy Romans for burying their dead. They were displayed in tombs, either against a wall if one side was uncarved, or free-standing when decorated on all sides. Very large or elaborate examples could be placed out-of-doors along the sides of roads or in cemeteries. Muses were frequently used to decorate sarcophagi, perhaps because practice of the arts was one means of achieving immortality. Decoration: The bodies of both muses are frontal. Thalia? head is turned to her left. She has very round cheeks and her features are very worn and abraded. She wears a characteristic close-fitting knitted or woven garment (indicated by a diamond-shaped net pattern in low relief). A mantle is wrapped around her hips and draped over her left shoulder (LIMC Type D I 2). The mantle is doubled over forming a roll of cloth at hip level, and the lower edge has a border with a carved pattern that is very worn but is perhaps an ovolo pattern. The pattern of folds in the cloth suggests that her right leg is straight while her left leg is slightly bent. Around her neck is a bulla used to hold an amulet. Her hair is tied into a knot at the back and she wears a fillet around her head with a feather above her forehead. In her left hand she holds a fragmentary staff. Her right arm is missing and only part of each leg remains below the bottom of the mantle. The mask has very round, hollow eyes, a snub nose and a large, gaping mouth. Euterpe looks to her right. She resembles Thalia very closely in features, hair and headdress, but her costume and attributes differ. She wears a long sleeved chiton with a high waist band. Her right arm is held akimbo and the flute she holds in her right hand is broken above and below the hand. Her left arm is raised. The hand would probably have held another flute, but it is missing. Also missing are her feet. Her right leg is bent slightly at the knee while her weight is supported on her straight left leg.

Roman, Italy

Gift of an Anonymous donor, 1988.

300 - 325

88.078

Gift of an anonymous donor, 1988.
Said to be with Studio Canova, Via delle Colonette, Rome, before 1826.