SculptureGreek4th century BCE

Comic actor with shield

c. 350 BCE

Description

Mostly complete figurine. Standing actor, draped, holding a shield. Rounded bald head with abundant wavy hair at the sides. Furrowed brow; deep-set, almond-shaped eyes with both lids rendered in relief; broad nose. Open mouth, with the mustache and beard of a typical mask. Authoritative expression. He wears a simple garment, wrapped in the style of a himation, leaving the right arm bare, rolled around the chest, and draped over the left shoulder. The garment is short, however, stretched taught across a large, round belly, and ending just under it. A prosthetic phallus would have been exposed; perhaps that is what hangs by his left thigh. Shapely legs; right engaged, left bent at knee. The right arm extends forward and to the side and would have held a now missing object (a spear?). The left arm is kept close to the body, and obscured by a small, round shield with a six-point star in high relief. The back is plain and rough and seems to hint at a hump. Would have been painted originally. Traces of white ground extant at front. Pink pigment is visible on the shield, and red on the legs. Hollow but heavy; partly open bottom. Mold-made in multiple, deep, single-sided molds: one for the head, one for each arm, one for the body, and one for the shield. The back was formed with a plain slab of clay, rougher in texture. Oval venthole at mid back. Join seams carefully concealed. Partial fingerprints on interior surfaces. Light pink clay with some grog inclusions.

Classification

Sculpture

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek

Period

Classical period, Late

Century

4th century BCE