Getty Museum

Bust of a Man

Date

A.D. 90–100

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Roman

Department

Sculpture

Institution

Getty Museum

Drawn and sagging features convey the advanced age of the man portrayed on this Roman portrait bust. The man's hairstyle--combed forward over his forehead and above his ears--allows scholars to date the work to the period from about A.D. 90 to 110, perhaps during the rule of the emperor Trajan (reigned A.D. 98 - 117). Although many Roman portraits of private individuals copy the emperor's style, the extremely high quality of this portrait may suggest that this man was actually a relation or someone with close connections to the emperor. The bust has suffered only minimal damage over time. Parts of the garment and the man's left ear have corroded. The bust has also lost its inlaid eyes.

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