From 2nd Century BC To 6th Century

From the 2nd century BC to the 6th century, art history saw a shift from naturalism to idealism. This was a period in which artists began to depict subjects more realistically, but also began to idealize them, making them more perfect than they actually were. This shift can be seen in the art of the time, which often showed people and objects in an idealized way.

Bronze statuette of a philosopher on a lamp stand

    This is a copy of a Greek statue of the 3rd century B. C.
    The copy is a reduced copy of a Hellenistic original of the III century B. C.
    The copy is surmounted by a portrait statuette of a philosopher.

Glass plaque fragment

    The plaque is not a true cameo, since the translucent blue background is completely covered with a thin layer of opaque light-blue glass.
    The scene, which involves a man and at least one other person, cannot now be identified.
    The plaque is made of translucent pale blue and opaque mid blue.

Glass cameo fragment

    The fragment comes from a flat panel of glass, probably a plaque rather than a vessel.
    The honey brown ground and opaque turquoise overlay are an unusual combination for Roman cameo glass.
    The fragment is broken on all sides with weathered edges; dulling, slight pitting, patches of weathering and brilliant iridescence on back.

Fragment from a Two-Sided Sanctuary Screen with Birds Eating Grapes

    This fragment was probably part of the waist-high screen that separated the congregation (in the nave of the church) from the clergy (in the sanctuary).
    This side would have faced the congregation and shows birds eating grapes, a symbolic allusion to the Eucharist.
    The fragment is made of limestone and is decorated with a relief of birds eating grapes.

Fragment of a painted mummy shroud

    This fragment is part of a portrait of a woman painted in tempera on a linen shroud.
    All that survives is a view of her hands:she wears a lot of jewelry, including a ring on every finger of her left hand.
    The snake-ring on her right hand finds parallels in actual gold rings, which are usually dated to the first century A. D., but this shroud is probably later.

Bronze serving fork

    There are examples of forks from Roman times that may have been used to serve food rather than as individual eating utensils.
    This two-pronged fork has a finial in the shape of an ox hoof similar to that on the bronze spoon also on view in this case.
    This fork has a finial in the shape of an ox hoof similar to that on the bronze spoon also on view in this case.

Belt Buckle

    This object comes from the Vermand Treasure, the most richly appointed barbarian-warrior grave ever found.
    The grave was likely that of an auxiliary soldier stationed in the Roman province of Gaul.
    It also contained a shield, parts of which of which are on view in the Arms and Armor Galleries.

Silver spoon