Minneapolis Institute of Art

Tondo: Portrait of a Young Noblewoman

Roman EmpireLinkedCulture matchlcp-4c2f8dd29711

Date

2nd century

Medium

Marble

Culture

Roman

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Object ID

1700

The half-figure relief was a common form used for Roman funerary sculpture. Here the deceased is depicted with a veil over her head signifying piety. Holes drilled in her ear lobes show that this figure once wore earrings which, together with the large size of the relief, indicate that the deceased came from a wealthy family. During the century following the reign of the emperor Augustus (27 B.C.-14 A.D.) the depiction of a maternal figure was also a moral statement, reflecting his program aimed at restoring ancient Roman virtues. A series of laws were passed to promote good moral behavior and to encourage marriage, curb adultery and divorce, and increase the birth rate.

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