Classical Greek Sculpture
Head of Eros
Classical Greek
replica: from the British Museum, London
date of the original: c. 4th century BC
provenance of the original: now in the British Museum, London
description: Head with damage to nose and chin. Probably missing body. Resin replica; marble original. Height 22.5 cm, width 13 cm, depth 14.5 cm.
Eros (Cupid), the god of love who “grew young,” at least in art. In the 4th century BC, after being depicted for centuries as a teenager, he became the little boy as represented here, and finally diminished to the size of a winged baby (the later baroque angel).
This is one of those little works whose size simply prevents them from being classified as great or from being particularly noticed.
(See also: Crouching Aphrodite; Lebes Gamikos.)