Roman Copy of an Old Woman

The Old Market Woman, anonymous sculptor, A.D. 14-68, Roman copy of an original Greek piece, The Metropolitan Museum, New York. When the Hellenistic period erupted into history, artists became drawn to the realistic portrayal of physical ailments and age development. These characteristics widely altered how figures were seen in many art forms. Those of different economic and political statuses were also expressed. Largely scaled statues of peasants, aged individuals, and the working class reached the same value as the many religious dedications of the Mediterranean, occasionally placed within sanctuaries of certain gods. The statue above has an extremely simple name, The Old Market Woman. Its representation is most likely a senior prostitute on her way to a festival of Dionysos, who is the god of wine. The material of her elegantly draped woolen clothing paired with her sandals demonstrates a contrast between peasant women of the period. Researchers believe the statue demonstrates the woman’s travels to the festival, as the ivy wreath around her head portrays an association with the god. The basket, full of fruit and poultry, is assumed to be gifted to Dionysos or for the celebration. Numerous literary sources give the modern world a generalized idea of the processions and numerous festivals in his worship and honor. The amount of perspective placed within the composition is typically seen in those created during the second century. This variation is the Roman copy of the original work, most likely dedicated in a sanctuary of Dionysos. Its purpose was to decorate a garden.