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Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Omphale

third quarter 17th century

Artus Quellinus the Elder

Associated Names

Artus Quellinus the Elder

Artist, Flemish, 1609 - 1668

The sculpture depicts a seated figure of a woman, who is partially draped with a flowing cloth, as she holds onto a tree trunk with her right hand and rests her left foot on the base. The sculpture is crafted from a material resembling ivory, giving it a smooth, creamy white appearance with shading that highlights the intricacies of the folds in the cloth and the detailed depiction of hair. The woman is shown in a relaxed posture and is looking slightly upwards. The sculpture rests on a dark wooden rectangular plinth, which contrasts with the light color of the statue. The craftsmanship of the figure and the texture of the material suggest a careful attention to detail, particularly in the portrayal of the naturalistic human form and the textures of the materials.

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Artwork overview

Medium

ivory
Credit Line

Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection
Dimensions

overall: 12 cm (4 3/4 in.)
Accession Number

2022.181.80

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

2015

Schmidt, Eike D., et al. Bronze, Boxwood, and Ivory in the Robert H. Smith Collection of Renaissance Sculpture. London, 2015: 5, 70-73, repro. no. 80.

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