Double-Headed Bust of Janus
Probably Italy, 18th–19th century
Carved marble
This expressive marble bust, featuring two conjoined heads facing opposite directions, evokes the Roman god Janus, deity of beginnings, transitions, duality, and time. The front-facing youthful head is paired with a mature, bearded visage—together embodying the cyclical nature of past and future, loss and renewal.
Its symbolic richness pairs meaningfully with the myth of Bacchus and Ariadne, a tale of abandonment and redemption. Ariadne, betrayed by Theseus and left to despair, finds love in Bacchus, who lifts her to divine status. Like Janus, this myth moves between endings and new beginnings, pain and exaltation.
Material: White marble
Dimensions: [to be confirmed]
Condition: Minor wear and surface abrasions consistent with age
