The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal 19 (1991), p. 138, no. Hundreds of fragments were found in a sanctuary on the island of Keros, deliberately shattered and ritually discarded. Over a dozen figures have been assigned to him. Period: Early Cycladic II. 40.6 × 13.2 × 5 cm (16 × 5 3/16 × 1 15/16 in.) In ceremonial use however, the figures would have been held or carried upright in procession. Schuster Master (Cycladic, active about 2400 B.C.) Cycladic figures often had facial features, hair, or jewelry added in paint. Most figures cannot stand, as their feet and toes point downward. Cycladic figures come from a grouping of islands known as the Cyclades located in the Aegean Sea. Culture: Cycladic. The content on this page is available according to the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) specifications. "Cycladic Art at the Getty." Female Figure. The name derives from the Greek word for circle, kyklos, as the Ancient Greeks believed they formed a circle around the sacred island of Delos. Attributed to the Bastis Master. The text on this page is licensed under a, All Getty Research Institute Publications, Conservation Perspectives, The GCI Newsletter, GCI Reference Collection (for materials analysis), Research Assistance at GCI Information Center, Links to Cultural Heritage Policy Documents, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF), Onassis Cultural Center (New York), April 4 to June 30, 2002, The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center (Los Angeles), February 11 to May 4, 2003. This figure with crossed arms is typical of the sculpture of the Cyclades in the mid-2000s B.C. Figurines of this type, from the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, have been found almost exclusively in tombs. Although it was first believed that these so-called "idols" represent deities, they probably should be interpreted more broadly as representations of "femaleness." This figure with crossed arms is typical of the sculpture of the Cyclades in the mid-2000s B.C. Abstract in form, small breasts and an incised pubic triangle identify the vast majority of Cycladic figures as female. Archeological News 17, nos. The Greek American (July 25, 1992), ill. p. 8. The recognition of different artistic personalities in Cycladic sculpture is based upon recurring systems of proportion and details of execution. 82c, 83c, 85c1. This nearly complete figure features stylistic traits of both the Spedos and Dokathismata types (see examples of the Spedos and Dokathismata varieties), such as the exaggerated curve of the top of the head, the deep groove between the legs, prominent nose, and wide shoulders. Those with known archaeological contexts come mainly from graves. Sculptors living on different islands produced marble figurines in a similar style but with distinctive variations. Red pigment on the forehead, however, is all that remains of this figure’s original surface decoration. 90.AA.114. They may have been meant to lie on their backs, as their folded arms suggest repose. Description. Accession Number: 68.148 [1] Artistic growth and development in the Cyclades was centered around the main four islands, Paros, Naxos, Keros, and Thera, and was spurred … Credit Line: Gift of Christos G. Bastis, 1968. Robin Symes, Limited, founded 1977, dissolved 2005 (London, England), sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 1990. Our tall Female figurine of the Spedos variety seems to be gazing upwards, which is a posture not uncommon among Cycladic figurines. Object Description. To avoid potential data charges from your carrier, we recommend making sure your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network before downloading. Scholars have divided Early Cycladic sculpture into groups or types indicating stylistic and chronological developments. The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, unless otherwise noted. Dimensions: H. 24 3/4 in. 1-4 (1992), p. 41. It is uncertain whether such generic images depict human beings or deities, but the nude female figures are probably linked with fertility and the life cycle, a central spiritual concern in the ancient Mediterranean. By Celia Romani. Abstract in form, small breasts and an incised pubic triangle identify the vast majority of Cycladic figures as female. Personal Styles in Early Cycladic Sculpture (Madison: 2001), pp. Scholars have divided Early Cycladic sculpture into groups or types indicating stylistic and chronological developments. Medium: Marble. 33. Date: 2600–2400 B.C. Theodorou, J. All of the figures display a head with a broad curving top and a crescent-shaped ridge at the back, a long aquiline nose, and well-defined knees. Title: Marble female figure. Not on view due to temporary Getty closure, Attributed to the Schuster Master (Cycladic, active about 2400 B.C. Within Cycladic culture, the figures’ role and meaning remain elusive. Like all artists at this early period, the Schuster Master's real name is unknown, and he is identified only by the style of his work. You may view this object in Mirador – a IIIF-compatible viewer – by clicking on the IIIF icon below the main image, or by dragging the icon into an open IIIF viewer window. (62.79 cm) Classification: Stone Sculpture. This image is available for download, without charge, under the Getty's Open Content Program. cat. Description Conservation Exhibitions Provenance Credit. Like the vast majority of Cycladic figurines, it clearly shows a female. Open Content images tend to be large in file-size. Doumas, Christos G. Silent Witnesses: Early Cycladic Art of the Third Millennium B.C., exh. The Schuster Master also preferred to show his figures with a slightly swelling belly, probably indicating pregnancy. The J. Paul Getty Museum Calendar (Winter 1991/1992), under "Bronze Age Sculptiure" ill. Getz-Gentle, Pat. 98-99; p. 168, checklist #15; pls. Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA), April 9-June 15, 2002 (New York: Onassis Foundation, 2002), p. 87, no. This figure is attributed to the Schuster Master, who was active sometime in the period around 2400 B.C. Birge, D. "Field Notes." ), 40.6 × 13.2 × 5 cm (16 × 5 3/16 × 1 15/16 in.). Images and other media are excluded. Although they hardly appear voluptuous or especially sexualised to the modern eye, most of the figurines are identifiable as women, indicated typically by the presence of breasts and a pubic triangle. 14. Updates and additions stemming from research and imaging activities are ongoing, with new content added each week.