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Head of Julia Domna, AD 193-217
Sculpture
, Statue
Roman
, 2nd-3rd century AD
Roman period, Middle Imperial, 98-235 AD
Creation Place:
Syria
Bronze, traces of gilding
36 cm h x 22 cm w x 20 cm d (14 3/16 x 8 11/16 x 7 7/8 in.)
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mr. C. Ruxton Love, Jr.
, 1956.19
Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
, Description
Bust of the empress Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus. Gilded bronze. Frontal portrait exhibits characteristic features of Julia Domna's portraiture: thick rows of curls, fleshy face, and long neck. Traces of lead on the lower part of the bust indicate where the draped body was attached. Nose battered. Missing much of the hair at the back. Green patina with white encrustations.
Commentary
Re-View Exhibition, Spring 2008, gallery label information:
The Syrian-born second wife of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla and Geta was herself a powerful figure. This head was originally gilded and set into a full-size statue. Its facial features and hairstyle, once complete with a bun, match named images of Julia Domna on coins, such as no. 43 in the coin case on the other side of this gallery.
The Syrian-born second wife of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla and Geta was herself a powerful figure. This head was originally gilded and set into a full-size statue. Its facial features and hairstyle, once complete with a bun, match named images of Julia Domna on coins, such as no. 43 in the coin case on the other side of this gallery.
Bibliography
Carol C. Mattusch, The Fire of Hephaistos: Large Classical Bronzes from North American Collections, exh. cat., Harvard University Art Museums (Cambridge, MA, 1996), p. 302-305, no. 42, color plate 9 and 16.
Nancy & and Andrew Ramage, Römische Kunst von Romulus zu Konstantin, Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft (Köln, 1999), p. 235 / fig. 9.4
Portraiture in Roman Syria, by Ilona Skupinska-Lovset, (Lodz, 1999)
Stephan Wolohojian, ed., Harvard Art Museum/Handbook, exh. cat., ed. Stephan Wolohojian (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2008)
Nancy & and Andrew Ramage, Römische Kunst von Romulus zu Konstantin, Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft (Köln, 1999), p. 235 / fig. 9.4
Portraiture in Roman Syria, by Ilona Skupinska-Lovset, (Lodz, 1999)
Stephan Wolohojian, ed., Harvard Art Museum/Handbook, exh. cat., ed. Stephan Wolohojian (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2008)
Exhibition History
Roman Gallery Installation (long-term), Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/16/1999 - 05/21/2013
Gods in Color: Painted Sculpture of Classical Antiquity, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/22/2007 - 01/20/2008
Re-View: S422 Ancient & Byzantine Art & Numismatics, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 04/12/2008 - 06/18/2011
Ancient to Modern, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 01/31/2012 - 06/01/2013