Private Portrait of a Man

Some of the finest examples of Roman sculpture are the outstanding portraits that commemorated important individuals. The Roman portrait tradition began with the life-like statues of the Republican period (509-27 BC). These realistic portraits emphasized the age and experience of the respected elders of the family. In Imperial times (27 BC-AD 410), the emperor's portrait was copied and displayed in public places throughout the empire, and the manner in which he chose to be portrayed had an enormous impact on the style and fashion of the portraits, both public and private, of his contemporaries. This magnificent portrait adopts features from images of emperors, including the facial structure and beard typical of Hadrian (reigned AD 117-38) and the thick locks of hair at the temples characteristic of his successor, Antoninus Pius (reigned AD 138-61). His weary features and unfocused gaze are typical of portraits of the period, which have a sense of inner reflection and withdrawal from worldly cares.