Foot of a Cista (Storage Box) c. early 5th century

This is an Ancient Etruscan bronze sculpture titled "Foot of a Cista (Storage Box)." The sculpture presents a winged male figure in mid-stride, seemingly floating above an ornate, vessel-like structure. The green patina of the bronze lends an air of antiquity. The composition is structured around a dynamic interplay of lines. Notice the fluid curve of the figure’s body and the sharp angles of the wings. The base is built around a series of rounded edges creating a counterpoint to the more rigid lines of the figure. The wings and the figure’s posture suggest a sense of liberation and movement. The winged man can be interpreted as a symbol of transition between worlds. The sculpture invites us to consider themes of movement, transformation, and the interplay between the earthly and the divine. It destabilizes the boundary between the mundane and the extraordinary, leaving us in a space of contemplation.