FEMINA: Women of Antiquity
March 27 to April 30
Among the very first images that are found in the archaeological record of mankind are those of women. From the earliest period in human history, across many cultures, the feminine form was an important and persistent motif.
This exhibition, through a select group of objects that have come down to us from antiquity, spanning a period of nearly 5000 years, offers a glimpse of this early feminine iconography as it developed from the Neolithic Period through the fall of the Roman Empire.
The earliest representations, invariably abstract figurines with wide hips, conspicuous breasts, and outstretched arms, are indicative of early man’s preoccupation with fertility of both society and the land.
By the third millennium BC, in Mesopotamia and Egypt, the symbolism of the female form became much more involved. A number of important goddesses came to be recognized as personifications of both natural and human forces, representing not only fecundity, motherhood, and sexuality, but also home, health, magic, and warfare. For the first time, we also begin to see representations of actual women, both nobility and servants alike.
In the Classical Period the Greeks were depicting women, real and supernatural, in every available media with an increasing interest in realism. Temples and sanctuaries were constructed surrounding magnificent cult statues of their primary goddesses. While charming depictions of ordinary women and young girls at play began to occur with frequency. Images of women at all levels of society formed an integral part of the Greek artistic repertoire in sculpture, vase painting, terracotta, and coins.
By the Roman Period, depictions of the established Classical goddesses exist in great numbers as well as a number of new female deities adopted from conquered peoples. Perhaps more importantly, we now find a substantial amount of realistic portraiture representing women of power and rank. Images of aristocratic women abound in both sculptural and numismatic representations. With the onset of the Dark Ages, women, both historical and mythical recede into the background of the western artistic repertoire for several hundred years.
The catalog illustrates a select group of pieces from the exhibition that trace this development from abstract Mother-Goddess to Roman Empress.
Randall Hixenbaugh, March 2008
Past Exhibitions
new book:
ANCIENT GREEK HELMETS:
A Complete Guide and Catalog
A Complete Guide and Catalog
From 03/21/2019 to 04/27/2019
NEW COLOR IMAGES:
The photography of Joseph Coscia Jr.
And accompanying ancient glass through December 7
The photography of Joseph Coscia Jr.
And accompanying ancient glass through December 7
From 10/25/2018 to 11/25/2018
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
From 05/10/2018 to 05/31/2018
REALM OF OSIRIS: Art of the Egyptian Mummy
Through November 18
From 10/26/2017 to 11/18/2017
GODDESS
through October 14
From 09/21/2017 to 10/14/2017
The GODDESS exhibition features sculpture of of the divine female form in antiquity.
RECENT IMAGES:
The photography of Joseph Coscia
The photography of Joseph Coscia
From 05/19/2017 to 06/30/2017
CERAMIC
on view through February 25
From 01/19/2017 to 02/25/2017
Light on Stone:
the photography of Joseph Coscia
From 10/20/2016 to 12/24/2016
Paintings of John Woodrow Kelley
Through October 15
From 09/15/2016 to 10/15/2016
MEDITERRANEAN MOSAICS
From 06/09/2016 to 07/30/2016
GODS of ANTIQUITY
From 04/07/2016 to 05/28/2016
ART of WAR December through February 2016
From 12/10/2015 to 02/13/2016
From 10/29/2015 to 12/05/2015 On view in our Chelsea gallery from October 29 through December 5 From 09/17/2015 to 10/24/2015 On view exclusively at our Chelsea gallery from September 17 to October 24 From 04/16/2015 to 05/30/2015 On view exclusively at our Chelsea gallery from April 16th to May 30. From 02/01/2015 to 04/11/2015 Our inaugural show in our newly opened Chelsea gallery, on view now through April 11th, explores the widely varied depictions of the human face in ancient art. From 11/15/2011 to 12/31/2011 From 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008 Our current exhibition includes a number of rare and unusual examples of ancient arms and armor including, Greek bronze helmets and horse armor, Roman legionary bricks, Celtic swords and spears, as well as a number of ancient projectile points.
Art of Ancient America
PAX ROMANA: Roman art exhibition
SYMPOSIUM: Wine and Revelry in Antiquity
the face of antiquity
Neo-Assyrian Arms and Armor on Display
ANCIENT ARMS AND ARMOR
