Funerary sculpture of a lady. Cyprus, IV-III century B.C.

Funerary sculpture of a lady. Cyprus, IV-III century BC.
Limestone.
Provenance: Private collection from the East of France, formed in the 19th century and passed down the line.
Measurements: 50.5 cm high; 14 cm wide; 8 cm deep.

Remarkable Cypriot funerary sculpture representing a female figure standing, inscribed within the insular sculptural tradition strongly influenced by the Greek models of the late Classicism.

The figure appears wrapped in a himation that covers the head as a veil, creating a closed and solemn composition. The folds, wide and rhythmic in the upper part, are arranged in more marked verticals in the lower zone, creating an elegant contrast between dynamism and stability. This resource, characteristic of Cypriot sculpture of the time, is evidence of the local assimilation of the plastic languages of the Greek world, reinterpreted with a markedly archaizing character.

The face, now softened by erosion, retains its hieratic frontality, reinforcing the timeless and symbolic character of the piece. The disposition of the hands, discreetly gathered under the mantle, refers to attitudes of recollection and dignity, typical of funerary representations intended to perpetuate the idealized memory of the deceased.

This type of sculpture, common in Cypriot funerary contexts, fulfilled a double function: as a grave marker and as a substitute image of the deceased, integrating social, aesthetic and spiritual values. The quality of the carving, especially in the treatment of the drapery, places the work within a careful production, probably intended for a wealthy environment.

The surface has a homogeneous archaeological patina, with deposits and wear consistent with its age, with no appreciable modern interventions.