Head of Gudea

Tello, ancient Girsu
Paris, Louvre Museum (AO 13)
Dark green diorite; H 23 cm
Neo-Sumerian period (22nd century BC)

Called, from its discovering, “head with turban”, it was probably belonging to a statue of Gudea, ensi of Lagash. The face is wide, almost squared, especially in correspondence of the chin. The facial moulding is very careful with effects of chiaroscuro; the facial features are well marked.
Although the damaged nose, this head is one of the best exemplar of this period. (AL)