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Sarcophagus and lid with portraits of husband and wife
UnknownLate 4th century B.C. - early 3rd century B.C.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston, MA, United States
The couple, who lie embracing each other, on the lid of this sarcophagus, are carved with the "Italic" immediacy and naturalism often found in Etruscan sculpture. The warmth and tenderness of the couple is reinforced by the realistically fleshy presentation of the husband. The scene on the side panel is that of a wedding procession, presumably of the couple portrayed on the lid. This ritualistic ceremony is possibly also symbolic of their anticipated reunion in death after their journey to the Underworld. The end panels with departure scenes reinforce this suggestion.
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Details
- Title: Sarcophagus and lid with portraits of husband and wife
- Creator: Unknown
- Date Created: Late 4th century B.C. - early 3rd century B.C.
- Physical Dimensions: w730 x h880 x d2100 mm
- Type: Tomb equipment-Coffins, Sarcophagi
- Rights: Museum purchase with funds by exchange from a Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius C. Vermeule III. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
- External Link: http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/sarcophagus-and-lid-with-portraits-of-husband-and-wife-151378
- Medium: Nenfro (volcanic stone)
- Period, era, dynasty, reign: Late Classical or Hellenistic Period
- City, state, country: Vulci, Lazio, Italy
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