Greek and Roman Portraits

Early republic – Bronze the preferred medium – Pliny.

Showed their figures clothed – contrast to G. nudity.
Origins of portraiture is complex – Public & Private context of portraits.
Propaganda & Funerary (Ancestor cults).
Roman tradition wasn’t idealised but hyper-realistic. Emphasised abstract
qualities – respect for the elderly, old = experience & successful.
Funeral procession – deceased ancestor’s accompanying them.
“In the halls of our ancestors wax models of faces were displayed to furnish
likeliness in funeral processions so that at a funeral the entire clan was
present.” - Pliny the Elder, Natural History 35.6-7.
Togate Statue – 1st C BC. – Softening of Realism.
Toga is dress of a Roman citizen – portrayal of status.
Carrying portrait busts – earlier styles. Carrying busts of ancestors?
Stark realism- drawing on tradition of funerary masks.
Interest in the individual- rather than typecast.
Veristic style – realism but exaggerated can be male or female.
Private portraits different to public.
Tombs have niches for portrait busts.
Wives can be shown more* but not idealised – hairstyles.
Roman Matron – sharp features- shows strength of character.
Capitoline Brutus – Earlier, fore-father of the Republic.
Imagined Portrait. 3rd or 1st C Bc.
Probably comes from a full-length statue. Bronze head – schematic depiction
of beard. Eyes – Ivory and glass. Distinctive style. Serious, almost noble
expression.
The Tivoli General
Dates to 1st C BCE. Marble made up of 12 individual pieces – clamped.
Head of an older man- folds in neck indicating Age.
On a young – muscular almost Greek body. Top of head came separately.
Use of Marble? No Lifesize pieces of marble available hence the 12 pieces.
Good example of the desire to use marble but limited by supply.
Pompey The Great
Furrowed brow- faint lines around the neck – age being referred to.
Flicky fringe – used on coin depictions – copying Alexander the Great (ATG)

Coinage helps to identify individuals – important medium of portraiture.

Coinage about promoting image – individual kings had coins which enabled
promotion.
Visually create a dynasty – identifying characteristics.
Mithradates IV – emulated ATG – flowing locks. Used to promote an image /
facet of someone.
Respect for ancestors – expressed through coinage. – Veristic style. Self-
promotion. “good family values.”
J. Caesar – scraggy & scrawny features.
Monument of Aemilius Paulus, Temple of Apollo, Delphi.
Relief sculpture – other aspect of portraiture.
Earliest roman historical relief in Greek context– Battle of Pydna. 168 BC.
Purely Greek in style & composition- Monument in Greek.
Deals with a specific historical event. Equestrian statue of Aemilius – prob.
Bronze. Four scenes depict battle of Pydna – Greek Hellenistic style.
Uses stock motifs. – drew on local craftsmen. Shows battle scenes between
cavalry and foot soldiers. Battle is lively- variation in poses.
Paint survives. Undercutting & proud stance of figures.
Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus
Earliest historical Roman relief in Roman Context.
Believed to be part of an altar.
Panels depict a census- registration of Roman citizen.
Statue of Mars – leaning on spear & sacrifice scene.
Suovataurilia – sacrifice of a bull, sheep & pig.
Marine Thiasos – Dionysiac Dance. Believed to be a part of the altar.
1. Typical Roman event – factual with Rom. Method of depiction.
2. Greek mythological scene – uses conventional late Hellenistic style.
Reflects the co-existence of different cultural distinct languages of imagery
and style in use in Roman art – exploration of own identity.
Romans drawing on pre-existing skillsets and adaption to their own.