Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The Museum Year 2011
The Year
Acquisitions
Art of the Ancient World: July 2009–June 2011
Head of a priest
2nd–late 1st century B.C.
Height: 22.2 cm (8 3/4 in.)
Marble
Classification: Sculpture
Culture: Egyptian
Period: Hellenistic Period (Ptolemaic Dynasty, 2nd half)
Accession number: 2010.734
Description: A shaven-headed man realistically carved with a furrowed brow, hooded eyes and subtle diagonal furrows across the cheeks. The protruding lower lip adds to his pensive expression.
Provenance/Ownership History: 1981, unknown art gallery, Lugano, Switzerland; December 10, 1981, anonymous sale (consigned by the Lugano gallery), Christie's, London, lot 230. Private collection, Madrid; sold from this private collection to a private collector; June 10, 2010, anonymous (private collector) sale, Christie's, New York, lot 54, to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 22, 2010)
Norma Jean Calderwood Acquisition Fund