Female torso. Roma, 2nd century A.D.

Female torso. Roma, 2nd century A.D.
Marble.
Provenance: private collection.
Good preservation of the fragment. Eroded parts.
Measurements: 51 cm (height with pedestal); 36 x 23 x 15 cm (torso); 14 x 21 x 21 x 21 cm (pedestal).

This sculpture of a Roman torso from the 2nd century A.D., wearing a draped tunic or peplum with naturalistic folds, could represent the goddess Venus (the Greek Aphrodite), personification of love and beauty. Following the tradition of classical Greece, the Venus effigies assumed a sensual posture, coming out of the bath or, as in this case, exposing one of her turgid breasts, which also associates her with fertility. The natural folds of the tunic show the high level of technical skill achieved by the Roman sculptors. The treatment of the folds of the fabric not only brings realism to the work, but also helps to convey the movement and fluidity of the figure's body, an important aspect in Roman sculpture that derived from Hellenistic influences. Possibly, the harmonious body adopted a contrapposto that contributed to imprint a sinuous grace to the figure, whose face undoubtedly also emulated Hellenistic canons of beauty.

The Roman sculpture of the second century A.D. is one of the most important phases of Roman art, standing out for an evolution in technique, realism and style. During this period, Roman art continued its influence from the Greek tradition, but with an adaptation that reflected the ideals of Roman society. The second century A.D. corresponds to the Antonine dynasty, which includes emperors such as Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius, who fostered an era of prosperity in the Roman Empire and, therefore, also an expansion in the patronage of the arts.