Black People in European Sculpture Project

43 (13/01/2022)

Serpentine Bust of a Black Woman

Italian sculpture of a figure, probably dating from the sixteenth century. The earlobes have holes for earrings and the headband has traces of gilding. There is some debate over the gender of the bust as both African males and females were depicted wearing earrings and headbands.

Bust – Portrait

Base present - may be a later replacement

Height (with base): 40 cm

Width: ? cm

Depth: ? cm

Serpentine

Gold

Carving

Gilding

Monochrome – black

Anonymous: specific individual but not currently identifiable

Main protagonist

Uncertain

Adult

Adolescent

Uncertain

No clothes included (head)

None

Earrings (often a single pearl)

Not relevant (head)

Calm

Neutral/emotionless

Unfocussed/blank eyeballs

Looking sideways

No location included/implied

Sixteenth century (1500-1599)

Inferred from stylistic features

Decorative

Unknown

A.4-1941

Although the bust is currently called 'Bust of a Black Woman', there is some debate over whether the head represents an adolescent boy or girl. The carving is sensitive and high quality; the headband has traces of gilding, and the holes in the earlobes make it likely that the head was originally adorned with earrings. The date and attribution of this sculpture are still a matter of debate. It was once thought to be after Giambologna and has been variously dated to the 16th or 18th century. The lower edge of the bust is curved and bevelled, suggesting that it was originally set in a bronze or marble base.