General admission for children 17 years and under is always free

Greek, Myrina - Seated Woman, 19th century

Greek, Myrina

Seated Woman, 19th century

Polychromed terracotta , 13.6 cm (5 3/8 in.)

Commentary

Terracotta figurines like this one were abundant in Ancient Greece during the last quarter of the 4th century B.C. They were called “Tanagras” because a large majority of the figurines have been found at Tanagra, a site in Boeotia. The majority of the figurines depict elegant women or girls, like this sculpture of a seated woman. Tanagra figurines were made with a two-part mold, making the sculptures easy to mass produce and replicate. This particular figurine is a modern copy of a Tanagra sculpture, purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner’s nephew, William Amory Gardner, while he was traveling in Greece. William Amory gifted the figurine to Isabella at the opening of her museum in 1903.