Female Bust (probably Antonia Minor)

myminifactory

Female bust with a noblewoman's portrait, showcasing well-defined facial features and a serious, dignified expression. The face is heavy-set, with large eyes that are open and slightly sunken, a yielding mouth with a distinctive, long cut, and muted nasolabial depressions. A simple yet elegant hairstyle frames the subject, characterized by slightly wavy hair extending from a central parting, covering the ears, and collecting at the nape in a small bun. The modern bust is wrapped in a robe, depicting a noblewoman whose iconographic features, particularly her hairstyle, are believed to represent Antonia Minor, Claudius's mother. The figure bears resemblance to the one on the Ara Pacis slab and coin effigies from the Claudian era. Comparative analysis reveals similarities with the bust number 743 at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen and a headpiece at the National Roman Museum. Although certain traits are rendered similarly, it is challenging to confirm that these sculptures depict the same individual. The identification of the Venetian portrait as Antonia Minor remains uncertain, suggesting it may represent a private lady from the period between Tiberius and Claudius. The Venice portrait seamlessly fits into the idealized aesthetic of the Claudian age, yet it also conveys intimacy through the contrast between the bold, plastic-pictorial face and the soft, subtle shading of the hair.