Bust of a Roman Woman at The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

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The appearance of sculptural portraits in Ancient Rome was largely driven by the cult of ancestors. Portraits were frequently crafted as small busts attached to stone pillars or herms, then placed within tombs. The Hermitage portrait appears to have been created for a burial vault, which explains the artist's focus on capturing a precise physical likeness. In sculptures from the early Empire period, including this piece, Greek traditions continued to shape the development of form and the nuanced modeling of marble surfaces. At the same time, the typical Roman approach remained evident in the details of fashionable hairstyles, carefully rendered folds of clothing attached to the shoulders with flat fibulae. The strict, simple nature of the bust can be attributed to its funerary purpose. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)