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Head of a Man

Culture
Roman, 753 BCE–395 CE
Period
Imperial period, 27 BCE–330 CE
Period
Antonine period, 138–192 CE
Date
2nd century CE
Material
Marble
associated with
Asia
associated with
Europe
Classification
Sculpture, stone & mineral
Collection
Ancient Art
Current Location
On View, Gallery 253
Dimensions
approximate: 12 1/2 x 10 x 12 in. (31.8 x 25.4 x 30.5 cm)
Credit Line
Museum Shop Fund, and funds given by The Arthur and Helen Baer Charitable Foundation, Mr. Christian B. Peper, and donors to the 1984 Art Enrichment Fund; and Museum Purchase, J. Lionberger Davis, Friends Endowment Fund, and Mrs. Dora Gilula, by exchange
Rights
Public Domain
Object Number
108:1989
NOTES
The thick beard and masses of curly hair indicate that this head dates to the period after Hadrian’s reign (117–138 CE) since he was the first Roman emperor to wear a full beard. The curls and the slight split at the center of the beard are features that appear on portraits from the late 2nd century CE. Despite certain physical similarities to portraits of emperors of the time, this head cannot be identified as a particular individual.
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