Head of a Roman patrician
Republican Roma. c. 75-50 B.C.E. Marble. Rome, Italy.
the physical traits of this portrait image are meant to convey seriousness of mind (gravitas) and the virtue (virtus) of a public career by demonstrating the way in which the subject literally wears the marks of his endeavors.
Art History Website: Head of a Roman Patrician
Form
Also known as the Otricoli Head (the name of the individual is unknown)
From Otricoli, Italy; now housed in the Palazzo Torlonia in Rome, Italy
Approx. 1' 2" high
Republican Roman
c. 75-50 BCE
Marble
Polychromed (painted in several colors)
Terra Cotta- was used and then painted with encaustic (otherwise referred to as a hot wax process)
Use of clay (additive and subtractive) process was convenient because with this form of sculpting mistakes can be fixed
Veristic Style: Verism
A form of realism (hyper-realistic)
Over exaggerated (extremely aged and care worn)
Used as a way of honoring powerful elders
Unlike the Greek, the Romans believed that a head was enough to suffice as a portrait
Influenced by the tradition of ancestral imagines
Death wax masks of notable ancestors were kept and displayed by the family
Aristocratic families
Masks were used at funerals so that an actor might portray the deceased ancestors in a sort of familial parade
A reminder that one’s public image played a major role in what was a turbulent time in Roman history
Function
A veristic sculpture that accurately depicts a patrician
Admire the age of the elderly (in this case, an old patrician)
Symbolizes the virtues of wisdom, determination, experience, valor and strength that all Roman Republicans hoped to obtain
Content
Description: wrinkled and toothless, with sagging jowls
The face of a Roman aristocrat stares at us across the ages
Physical traits meant to convey seriousness of mind (gravitas) and the virtue (virtus) of a public career by demonstrating the way in which the subject literally wears the marks of his endeavors––in the days of the Roman Republic it was an effective means of competing in an ever more complex socio-political arena
This Veristic (or surrealistic) portrait of an unknown Roman patrician depicts carefully sculpted detail in the face, especially wrinkles and changes in texture
Instead of trying to make their subject appear perfect and youthful patrician portraits from the ancient Roman Republic aimed to highlight distinctive facial features
wrinkles and other signs of ageing on this portrait in particular serve to point out his admirable qualities of experience, seriousness, and determination
Iconography and Context
Patricians
Worked in the senate
Wealthy and educated men who ran the Republic
Busts of Roman patricians specifically embody wisdom and experience from old age
Roman idealization emphasized distinguishing aspects of the individual
Start of 200 B.C. individuality was increasing
Sculptures were often produced to show the power and wealth of an individual such as a statesman or a military leader
The Roman Empire had representational form of government run by the Senate
The Senate was powerful, however, some military leaders "ceasers" who had distinguished themselves in battle and through political coups, became emperors who considered themselves living gods
Often power was passed from relative to relative and through generations. Sculptures were made of these family members almost as a form of ancestor worship.
Sculptures also express how the Romans viewed male and female roles in their society.
Men as older and distinguished, at a time in their lives when they were most powerful
Women are almost never depicted as aged, instead mostly depicted as young and beautiful
Since art was mainly produced and commissioned for a male audience it is possible to draw the conclusion that art reflects a dominantly male view of the world.
- "male gaze."
