Original scientific paper
THE FRAGMENT OF A FEMALE HEAD IN TROGIR (DALMATIA) AND ITS PLACE IN ROMAN SCULPTURE
Nenad Cambj
; Faculty of philosophy in Zadar
Abstract
A fragment of a large woman head is kept in the Town Museum of Trogir (0,30 h. 0,23 w. and 0,23 d.) Very probably it was found in Salona. The head must have been slightly bent to the right and back, since the eyes are turned upwards. Woman’s hair is wavy and curly. The locks were rendered by drill which produced characteristic dark and light effects. Channels were deep and rather short with small struts left in them. So that upper and lower locks were connected. The drill work is the main accent of the sculpture. A wreath consisting of rounded and pointed leaves was put on the top of the head.
Obviously the Trogir head was of oriental production. The marble is not known, but it resembles the marble from Aphrodisias (Caria). A woman’s head with diadem and the complete sculpture of Diana Lucifera with torches in both hands from Aequum (now in Franciscan monastery in Sinj) are made from the same marble. They are stilistically very clTrogir head. The best parallels could be found in Aphrodisias as well as in other parts of Roman world where these sculptors were active.
It is impossible to discern to whom the Trogir head belonged. The wreth is not a decisive element for such a conclusion, since many mythological, official and private persons wore it.
Trogir head reveals deep pathos characteristic of Scopadic sculpture and its derivations. The sculptures of Aphrodisias were often made after Classical or Hellenistic originals. Aequum sculptures do not show, however, clear Hellenistic patterns and probably belonged to Roman stereotypes.
A very fine Hypolithus sarcophagus from Salona (Manastirine) according to J. B. Ward Perkins was also carved from Aphrodisias marble, but the sarcophagus was done in Rome in the early 4th century AD. Since every sort of marble required craftsmen’s skill to carve it, it is very likely that the sarcophagus was executed by sculptors from Aphrodisias who settled in Rome at the end of the 3rd century AD.
The Trogir head is obviously earlier than both Aequum sculptures. It should be dated in the first decades of the 3rd century AD. Aequum head with diadem was two or three decades younger, while the statue of Diana belonged to the period after AD 250. Chronological sequence of sculptures is bazed on the stage of drilling work and their schematization.
Aphrodisiac sculptors were active in Dalmatia during the 3rd and early 4th centuries AD. They also executed several decorative reliefs in Diocletian’s place. Their activity and import ceased at the beginning of the 4th century AD.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
145434
URI
Publication date:
3.7.2000.
Visits: 1.847 *