Head of the Mourning Penelope

myminifactory

Acquired in 1879 from the Dressel Collection (Rome)Marble, Roman, after a model from the fifth century BC Full of sadness, the woman rests her head in her hand. This motif, preserved also in a statue type and in a 'Melian' relief, gave her the name of Odysseus' virtuous wife, who waited twenty years for him to return. Perhaps this Roman copy was part of a funerary statue.