Portrait of a Mature Woman in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Portrait of a Mature Woman
Roman, probably from Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), AD 100-110
Marble

Accession # 72.AA.122

Although the Small Herculaneum Woman body type was generally selected for portraits of young women, it was sometimes used for matrons, as exemplified by this portrait with sagging cheeks and deep folds around the mouth. The value of carving a stock statue type derived not only from its familiarity to a Roman public but also from its efficiency. The compact bodies of both Herculaneum Women made them economical to produce. Less marble was needed because there were no projecting limbs to sculpt.

Text from the Getty Villa label.