
Portrait of a young woman with a gilded wreath, c. A.D. 120–140
Encaustic, wood, gold leaf
H. 36.5 x W. 17.8 cm (14 3/8 x 7 in.)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The woman’s oval face, large eyes, and slightly open lips give the portrait considerable presence. Venus rings on her neck call attention to her youthful plump beauty. The hairstyle is typical for the period of the Emperor Hadrian, except for the corkscrew locks around the forehead, which may be a regional style. More on this work…