Head of a maiden 1800 - 1815

Niccolò Amastini created this cameo, Head of a Maiden, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The soft stone carving in profile reflects the Roman revival in vogue at the time. The idealization of the feminine form presents a vision of beauty rooted in classical antiquity. Yet this vision also tells us about the social and cultural values of Amastini's time. The woman’s serene and composed expression speaks to a specific expectation of female virtue and status. Her features and hairstyle, while ostensibly classical, were also signifiers of contemporary beauty standards, designed to appeal to the sensibilities of the 19th-century viewer. Consider how this small object, likely intended as a personal adornment, embodies the complex interplay between history, identity, and desire. This cameo invites us to reflect on how the images we create and cherish reflect societal ideals, as well as personal aspirations.