Inspired by Greek mythology, this pin depicts Leda, queen of Sparta, as Zeus approaches her in the guise of a swan.
- Material: Zinc alloy with white gloss finish, metal butterfly attachment
- Made in the USA
- Item #: LED-PIN
Found in 1775 in Rome, this statue is a first-century Roman version of an earlier Greek statue from the 300s B.C. attributed to Timotheos. More than two dozen examples of this statue survive, attesting to the theme's popularity among the Romans. The contrast of the clinging, transparent drapery on Leda's torso, especially over her left breast, and the heavy folds of cloth bunched between her legs characterizes Timotheos's style. The statue both conceals and reveals the female body, a tension often found in sculpture of the 300s B.C.
After its discovery, this statue was extensively restored and reworked. Both arms, most of the outstretched cloak, the swan's head, and the folds of cloth between Leda's legs are eighteenth-century restorations. The head, though ancient, is not original to this work, but comes from a statue of Venus.
Unknown artist/maker (Roman)
Statue of Leda and the Swan, 1st century A.D.
Marble
Object: 132.1 × 83.5 × 52.1 cm (52 × 32 7/8 × 20 1/2 in.)
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California, 70.AA.110