An ancient Roman statue of the Greek goddess Athena, hidden from public view for nearly 300 years, is resurfacing in Chicago.
The 1st-century C.E. sculpture has been acquired by the Halsted A&A Foundation, which aims to acquire artworks for education and display. Following an extensive restoration, the nonprofit will showcase the statue at Wrightwood 659, an exhibition space designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, starting January 25.
"By displaying the sculpture at Wrightwood 659, the foundation invites the public to see a work which has been largely out of general public view for nearly three centuries," said Karen Manchester, the foundation's curator, in a statement. "Now, scholars, students, and visitors will be able to study the statue of Athena closely and interpret it from many perspectives, including those of art history, restoration practices, and gender studies."
The Halsted Athena, as the work is now known, depicts the goddess in a flowing tunic with an aegis draped across her chest. She stands with her right hand extended, a small owl resting in her palm, and a helmet on her wavy locks, representing her association with wisdom and warfare.
The statue was first acquired in Rome in the 18th century by British politician William Weddell, who amassed a large collection of artworks during his grand tour of Italy. Weddell installed the Athena in a neo-Classical gallery at his North Yorkshire country estate, Newby Hall, where it remained for around 260 years.
Recent analysis by a conservation team has revealed that the statue's head was created during the reign of Augustus (around 31 B.C.E.–14 C.E.), while its body was carved when Claudius was in power (around 41–54 C.E.). This practice of piecing together ancient sculptures from diverse fragments was common in 18th-century Rome, as many buyers preferred complete pieces, even if composed of unrelated parts.
The Halsted Athena's public debut in Chicago coincides with the arrival of a trove of rarely seen Roman marbles from the Torlonia Collection, which will be on display at the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the exhibition "Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection."