Etruscan votive head, ca. 4th century BC.
Terracotta.
Conservation: in good condition.
Provenance: Edward Wigan 1966, Ex Denys Sutton, London (1917-1991) / Netherlands, by descent 1983 by inheritance to present owner (2010) / Swiss private collection, Lugano, 2021.
Size: 14 x 9 cm.
Female head of votive character that maintains the frontality usual in some Etruscan works of art and some details that slightly remind us of Greek works. This is an example of the sculptural art of the Etruscan culture, which in Antiquity was already surrounded by an aura of mystery; even their Greek contemporaries were intrigued by the sudden emergence of this people as a maritime and commercial power, by this ancient people who, according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, "resemble no other in their language and customs". While some consider them to be the people who gave rise to the Roman Empire, there are other experts who give more importance to the differences between the two peoples and consider them to be mere neighbours or "conqueror and conquered", depending on the period in which one speaks, recognising a strong influence of some elements of Etruscan culture and art observed in the Romans. In any case, the Etruscans were great artists and craftsmen, known for what has come down to us from them: profusely decorated and very striking tombs, resembling homes in some cases; terracotta sculptures which they apparently polychromed with flat, bright tones (similar to ancient Egyptian works), and used to decorate temples, as sculptures etc.; goldsmiths, ceramics, etc.
Etruscan art was heavily influenced by Greek art from the beginning, due to the cultural connection between the two peoples throughout the history of Etruscan culture. This influence was combined with that of Eastern origin and, from the 1st century BC onwards, with Roman influence. However, it was mainly Asian and Greek influences that determined the development of Etruscan art. On this basis, Etruscan art developed its own style, marked by a taste for stylisation and lively colour. One of its main sculptural manifestations will be the portrait, which will have a primarily funerary purpose, given that in Etruscan culture funeral rites and iconography will play a key role. However, there are also some examples of commemorative portraiture, such as the bronze head of Lucius Junius Brutus (c. 300 BC), the legendary first consul of the Roman Republic. The Etruscan portrait is not a simple copy of the Greek, but an original creation combining serenity and passion, a direct ancestor of the Roman portrait.