Bust of a Woman : Ariadne at The Louvre, Paris

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This bust of a woman was long overlooked in museums. Found in Falerii, about 50 kilometers from Rome, it has recently been recognized as a masterpiece of Etruscan terra-cotta sculpture. Created in the early third century BC, it belongs to the Greek sculptural tradition of the classical period. The young woman, who may be Ariadne, is veiled and crowned with vine branches and leaves, suggesting she belonged to a cult group depicting the wedding of Dionysos. Having been long overlooked, this terra-cotta bust of a woman was recently connected with a fragmentary Etruscan statue discovered in 1829 at the site of Falerii, north of Rome. The work was part of the Marquis Campana's collection until 1861, when it was bought by the French state; it came to the Louvre two years later. The statue is in several parts and was modeled by hand. It retains traces of polychrome painting: blue on clothing, yellow and purple on the clothing, pink on the face, and brown on hair. This work showcases an extraordinary skill that marks this as a masterpiece of Etruscan terra-cotta sculpture. This statue is an original work made in Falerii in the first decades of the third century BC, during the early Hellenistic period. It has a certain classicism inspired by Greek sculpture of the fourth century BC. The features of the face, which is a regular oval, and the hairstyle, with wavy locks arranged on either side of a triangular forehead, are inspired by Praxiteles or his followers. The treatment of drapery, using chiaroscuro and various materials, is reminiscent of female figures sculpted in the second half of the fourth century BC, particularly in Attic funerary stelae. This life-size statue of a woman, veiled and wearing a crown of vine branches and leaves (an attribute of Dionysos), probably represents Ariadne. She held the border of her cloak with her right hand, suggesting an unveiling gesture characteristic of divine marriage scenes. The figure of the women was probably part of a cult group along with her husband, the god Dionysos - iconography found on many red-figure vases made in Falerii. In the fourth and third centuries BC, the cult of Dionysos was extremely popular in Greece, but also in Campania and Etruria, particularly Falerii. According to certain Latin texts, the city contributed to the spread of Dionysiac rites to Rome and was partially responsible for the Senate decree of 186 BC, suppressing Bacchanalia and the worship of Dionysos. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access.