sealstone
- Museum number
- 1867,0507.491
- Description
-
Sard sealstone portrait of Livia: this lively portrait has the face upturned, giving a pert expression often found in early portraits of Livia. The hairstyle with double plait drawn back from the 'nodus' above the brow, the double bun at the nape of the neck, and the curls escaping from the bands of hair at the side of the face, are also features of Livia's early portraits. Folds of drapery; shown at the base of the neck, beneath which ; inscribed the Greek letters ΛEY (LEU), presumably part of a gem-cutter's signature.
- Production date
- 40BC-11BC
- Dimensions
-
Length: 1.40 centimetres
-
Width: 1 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Bibliography:
On portraits of Livia, see R. Winkes 'Livia, Octavia, Julia. Porträts und Darstellungen' (Providence, RI and Leuven, 1995), and E. Bartman, 'Portraits of Livia. Imaging the Imperial Woman in Augustan Rome' (Cambridge, 1999).
- Location
- On display (G70/dc8)
- Acquisition date
- 1867
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1867,0507.491