#3. Art of the Ancient Near East

 

  The Funerary relief bust of Haliphat made on date her death to the year 231 C.E in Syria. This Funerary relief bust covered the openings of burial compartments in family tombs located in the desert outside Palmyra. This is about 60 centimeters tall, 55 centimeters wide, and 23 centimeters depth. It is almost square shape bust and has proper proportion. Head part with hood is break bounds and I think that it is unusual thing but also it is pretty unique. It is quite big sculpture that about less than half of human’s body. This object made by limestone. Limestone is usually used in building material, but when it used in this object, it gives warm feeling. The color is almost same with skin color, so it feels familiar and makes movement. The color faded it makes this object as gentle and warm woman.

  She places in center of this object with relief skill, so it seems to guide the viewer to on position. The viewpoint suggested by front side of her and front side have all the details. Her face is toward to front, and she is expressionless. She has long face shape, long straight eyebrows, big and bright eyes that stand at gaze, long nose that looks manly, ears that covered over the hair, and small lips that looks upright person. Also, it is not clear but she expresses something with her fingers that touch on her face with her right index finger and middle finger. She wears elaborate jewelries and dressed fashionably. She wears earring that looks dumbbell, three different necklaces, brooch, and two rings on her left hand little finger. Her cloth seems likely the Greek people used to wear it. And it is not clear to recognize it but I guess that she also put up her hood. She ties up her wavy hair and takes down few hairs. But I am not sure about upper head part; it seems like baldhead or put something on upper head. She looks really fashionable and wealthy with many jewelries and gesture.  

  In addition, there is background that attached her back; also it was broken little bit on the side of this object. Faint lines are decorated her back and it is symmetrical carving. It looks like she sits on the chair or it also looks like that her clothes extend to the background. Some feathers or leaves decorated it as well. But other decoration is not clear so background part is hard to see it. This background makes this object looks two-dimensional sculptures but since this object is used for funeral, it is not necessary to concern. Even though I can barely see the lines in the background, it makes more luxurious to her.

  This sculpture absolutely emphasizes a sense of volume and little bit of three-dimensional form with relief. As long as it was used for funerary, it just doesn’t have backside but it almost feels like three-dimensional forms. Especially her face, right hand fingers, arms with the cloth, clothes wrinkles, and hood parts are emphasized the three dimensional with light and shadows. This sculpture emphasized upper part, so we are concentrate her face a lot more than other part. Shadows make the object looks more realistic. It creates a sense of drama. It is not sure but her face and fingers are making a story. Also light and shadow makes movement as well in upper area. She grabs her cloth with her left hand. It makes some drama as well.

   Almost part of this object is composed of nice and smooth texture. I think that the color and texture are well matched. Only hands, cheeks, and nose part are smooth and other than that wrinkles are all over the object. In this sculpture, vertical and diagonal lines are used together. Vertical lines make her as upright person and seem long. Diagonal lines make a feeling of movement. Cloth have smooth wrinkle, her hair part is dense wrinkles that made beautiful curly hair, even wrinkles in her neck. It shows that it is really exquisite sculpture. Also, this sculpture has many jewelries and it show a lot of details. Even third necklace have different color and shape.