Antique Bronze and Marble Bust Sculpture of Greek Niobe
This bust of Niobe, the sorrowful figure from Greek mythology, dates from the late 19th century and is crafted from patinated bronze and sculpted from black-veined rose and ivory marble. Measures 25.5” tall, 15.5” wide and 8” deep (65 x 39 x 23 cm). Entitled Niobe Figlia (Niobe Daughter). Believed to be of French origin. Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus and of either Dione (the most frequently cited) or of Eurythemista or Euryanassa. She is mentioned in Homer's Iliad for her proud hubris for which she was punished by Leto, who sent his twin sons, Apollo and Artemis, to kill her children. After the gods interred her children she retreated to her native Sipylus, and although being a stone, she was said to brood over the sorrows sent from the Gods. For centuries her tragic tale has been a popular subject of fine art, including sculpture and paintings.
