Cleveland Museum of Art

Bust of a Classical Hero or Emperor

Girolamo della Robbia

Date

early to mid 16th century

Medium

glazed terracotta

Culture

Italy, 16th century

Department

European Painting and Sculpture

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This bust most likely represents an emperor or condottiere from classical antiquity, and probably formed part of a series of classical heads. Such groups of worthies were featured as decorative schemes in the studioli and architectural projects of Renaissance statesmen. Attesting to the sophistication of their learned patrons, these busts also provided the opportunity for artists to explore the contemporary stylistic relevance of classical portraiture—a source of fascination and inspiration for Florentine sculptors of this period. Head-and-shoulders portraits, known as busts, were popular from Roman times.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.