Ancient Etruscan
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Ancient Etruscan sculpture was produced in central Italy between the 10th and 1st centuries BCE by the Etruscan civilization, which predated and deeply influenced Rome. Etruscan artists were master bronzesmiths whose work was exported across the Mediterranean. They also excelled in terracotta, which became their preferred medium due to the lack of local hard stone like marble.
Etruscan sculpture has distinctive features: egg-shaped heads, almond eyes, long noses, and expressive hand gestures. Most surviving works come from tombs, which were packed with sarcophagi and grave goods. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses, showing a reclining couple at a banquet, is one of the most iconic. Our collection includes 3 works at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Sculptures by Ancient Etruscan
3 sculptures catalogued with museum locations. Browse all sculptures
Sculpture
V
Votive (Gift) in the Shape of a Woman's Head
Ancient Etruscan, -500
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Sculpture
F
Foot of a Cista (Storage Box)
Ancient Etruscan, -500
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Sculpture
A
Architectural Relief Depicting the Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants)
Ancient Etruscan, -300
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Museums with Ancient Etruscan's Work
1 museum displays Etruscan's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
About Ancient Etruscan
Etruscans were master bronzesmiths and also excelled in terracotta. They preferred terracotta for larger works because central Italy lacked local marble or hard stone quarries.
They feature egg-shaped heads, almond eyes, long noses, and expressive gestures. While influenced by Greek art from 750 BCE onward, Etruscan sculpture retained its own distinctive character.
The Art Institute of Chicago has pieces. Italy's National Etruscan Museum in Rome (Villa Giulia) and the Vatican's Museo Etrusco hold the finest collections.
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