Statue of Athena

For the first time in nearly three centuries, a historically significant statue of the Greek goddess Athena is available for public view. Halsted A&A Foundation acquired the Roman statue, dating to 1st century CE, and will present it for extended viewing in the Tadao Ando-designed atrium of Wrightwood 659 starting January 25, 2025. Until Halsted A&A purchased the statue in 2023, the sculpture had been in the same British family for nearly 260 years. Since the new acquisition, a team of conservation specialists has studied the Halsted Athena to determine its condition and the safest way to display it. The statue is a composite figure—the head is from one sculpture, carved during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (31 BC-14 CE), while the body is from another, carved during the time of Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE). “Like many sculptures sold in Rome in 18th-century Italy, the figure is composed of ancient and modern fragments. The practice of piecing together sculptures was not invariably an attempt to deceive customers. Rather, many buyers preferred complete pieces, even if composed of unrelated parts,” notes Halsted A&A curator Karen Manchester. “Now, scholars, students and visitors will be able to study the statue of Athena closely and interpret it from many perspectives, including those of art history, restoration practices and gender studies,” Manchester added, offering a window into a rich yet complex classical past.

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