An ancient Roman statue of great importance and beauty—a depiction of the Greek goddess Athena from the early 1st century CE—has been acquired by Halsted A&A Foundation. In keeping with its commitment to the arts and education, Halsted A&A Foundation will display the Roman statue on extended view in the Tadao Ando-designed atrium of Wrightwood 659 in Chicago, debuting 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. Landowner and politician William Weddell acquired the work in Rome in the mid-1700s for Newby Hall, his estate in North Yorkshire, about four hours outside of London. There, the goddess stood in a niche in a pink-hued circular gallery which was specially designed in the Neo-classical style by the noted architect Robert Adam.

Since its acquisition, a team of conservation specialists has studied the statue to determine its condition and the safest way to display it. The installation of the statue at Wrightwood 659 coincides with an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection. The Torlonia Collection is the largest private assemblage of Roman marble sculptures in Italy, as well as, arguably, one of the most important private collections in the world. The Torlonia Collection originated in the 18th century, at the same time British travelers to Rome, like Weddell, were also acquiring classical antiquities.