Harvard Art Museums > 2003.96: Portrait Bust of a Man, probably the emperor Balbinus (reigned 238 AD) Sculpture Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Portrait Bust of a Man, probably the emperor Balbinus (reigned 238 AD) , 2003.96,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 24, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/219621. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2003.96 Title Portrait Bust of a Man, probably the emperor Balbinus (reigned 238 AD) Classification Sculpture Work Type sculpture, bust Date 3rd century CE Period Roman Imperial period, Late Culture Roman Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/219621 Physical Descriptions Medium alabaster Technique Carved Dimensions 13.2 x 9.5 cm (5 3/16 x 3 3/4 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Stephen and Virginia Sandy in memory of W.C. Burriss Young Accession Year 2003 Object Number 2003.96 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description Small portrait bust of a man, probably the emperor Balbinus, who reigned in 238 CE. Approximately 1/3 life-sized. The man is depicted with closely cropped coiffeur and beard, which conforms closely to the features of the emperor Balbinus as depicted on coinage of the period. The squarish head looks straight on. His moustache and chin are more intricately carved than the hair on his head. He has a small mouth, rough hears, thick lips, and a wrinkled forehead. A mantle is draped around his shoulders. Borromeo's dissertation argues that it is a private portrait. Dahmen's dissertation compares the bust's features to those on tetrarch monuments, leading to a later date of 300 CE. Condition: fragmentary and reassembled from three pieces (head reattached to neck, front of throat rebuilt), right earlobe missing. Once inlaid eyes now have traces of encrustation or adhesive in their sockets. Left shoulder missing. Commentary LIVE LIKE A ROMAN: DAILY LIFE OBJECT COLLECTION The most popular themes for Roman sculpture were deities and emperors. These statues were often idealized, meaning that they did not necessarily represent the emperor or ruling family to the exact detail. Sometimes emperors preferred to be depicted as younger, larger, or more intimidating than they actually were. The same problem is found with deities; these statues were imagined, idealized images of fictional beings, so no two statues are going to be the same. However, because of the long tradition of stone work the Romans had to build upon, many characteristics remain the same. We can infer that Roman artists projected a shared view of humanity upon their sculpture, and by looking at the work modern audiences are able to glean insight into how Romans looked or how they wanted to be seen. Sculpture in the Roman world was most often executed in marble. Emperor statues were usually life-sized or larger, making this small portrait head less common. [Jessica Pesce 7/2010] Publication History Karsten Dahmen, Untersuchungen zu form und funktion kleinformatiger portrats der romischen kaiserzeit, Scriptorium (Munster, 2001), fig. 154 Exhibition History Roman Gallery Installation (long-term), Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/16/1999 - 01/20/2008 32Q: 3620 University Study Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 01/23/2019 - 05/13/2019 Verification Level This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
