Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.
This exquisite portrait of a beautiful young woman depicts her as Selene, the Moon Goddess.
Moonstones in her hair represent the stars, the gleaming robe of the Milky Way is around her and she holds a corn plant... vitally important as a constituent of bread - the staff of life. Corn also symbolised plenty.
In Greek mythology Selene was the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, the sister of Helios the Sun God and Eos the Dawn.
Selene, "the eternally beautiful", is one of the triple goddesses of the Moon: Artemis - the waxing moon, Selene - the full moon, and Hecate - the waning moon.
Selene is the mother goddess...a symbol of womanhood, and is represented by the full moon, where she is at the height of her reproductive potential.
Known to the Romans as Luna, she is responsible for the germination of seeds and new crops.
The days of the full and new moon were set aside for her worship.
The calenders and rituals of her worship helped people to measure time to know when it was best for planting and harvesting.
Appropriately for a goddess who represents the life force she was known for her many love affairs.
The moonstone is her gem and her colour is silver, grey white.
MELA (MELANIE) MULLER was born in Budapest in 1879 and died in 1933.
At the present there is little information available on this talented Hungarian painter and her works seem to be very rare.
SIZE: 33 x 29.5 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE:
Sold Sotheby's, lot 144, 4 May 1988.
Hampshire Private Collection.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art Profile Page
Sold....portrait of a Young Woman as Selene, Goddess of the Moon C.1910; by Mela Muller
