Portrait of the emperor Hadrian
Marble.First half of the 1st century CE.
H. 79 cm. Inv. No. 1805,0703.94.London, British MuseumPhoto by Roger B. Ulrich
Portrait of the emperor Hadrian.
Marble.
First half of the 1st century CE.
H. 79 cm.
First half of the 1st century CE.
H. 79 cm.
Inv. No. 1805,0703.94.
London, British Museum.
Origin:
From the Townley collection, 1805.
Description:
Roman marble portrait of the emperor Hadrian (reign 117-138 CE) now in the British Museum (inv. 1805.7-3.94), formerly in the collection of Charles Townley. The bust depicts the emperor unclad; the evocation of the Greek concept of “heroic nudity.” Hadrian was the first emperor to show himself regularly with a beard (perhaps to reference the idea of the Greek philosopher). In the early second century sculptors also began to drill the pupils of the eyes. Previously most would have been painted on the bust.
Literature:
Hadrian: Empire and Conflict (London: British Museum Press 2008) pg. 52; 226.
M. Wegner, Hadrian, Plotina, Marciana, Matidia, Sabina (Das Römische Herrscherbild; II. Abt., Bd. 3 (Berlin 1956) p. 15, 69,101.
M. Wegner, Hadrian, Plotina, Marciana, Matidia, Sabina (Das Römische Herrscherbild; II. Abt., Bd. 3 (Berlin 1956) p. 15, 69,101.
Credits:
© 2010. Photo, text: Roger B. Ulrich.
Keywords: απεικόνιση portrait portraiture ritratto ritrattistica porträtmalerei porträt roman romana römisches romain αυτοκρατορικό imperial imperiale kaiserliches impérial ρωμαίος αυτοκράτορας πόπλιος αίλιος αδριανός imperator publius aelius hadrianus emperor hadrian imperatore romano publio elio adriano römischer kaiser empereur hadrien antonine dynasty adoptive emperors dinastia degli antonini imperatori adottivi d’adozione antoninische dynastie adoptivkaiser antonins γλυπτική sculptura sculpture sculptural scultura skulptur ρωμαϊκό romani römisch römische römischen romaine romains romaines προτομή bust busto büste buste marble marmo marmor marbre μάρμαρο beard bearded man barba uomo barbuto bart bärtiger mann barbe homme barbu barbatum γενειάδα γενειοφόρος άνθρωπος from the townley collection collezione sammlung inv no 1805 0703 94
