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Lot 140
Gortzius Geldorp (Leuven 1553-1616 Cologne)
Portrait of a Lady, bust-length, as Berenice, wife of Ptolomy III of Egypt
Closed26 January 2011
Price Realised
USD 8,125
More Information
Specialist note
According to legend Berenice promised to sacrifice her hair to Venus if the gods brought her husband, Ptolemy III, back safely from war. As he was delivered unharmed, Berenice cut off her hair and placed it in Venus's temple as promised but the hair disappeared. The belief is that it became a constellation in the night sky, known to this day as Coma Berenices, or Berenice's Hair.