Marble portrait bust of a young man

myminifactory

This resplendent bust of a young man with a sumptuous mane of curls and a broad expanse of chest reminiscent of Classical bronze sculpture from the fifth century B.C. was crafted in Athens during the mid-second century A.D. to immortalize a handsome youth by linking his image with those of revered ancient Greek mythological heroes. In the Antonine period, elaborate hairstyles such as this one were all the rage among the elite young set. The two portraits of Emperor Lucius Verus demonstrate the skillfully drilled carving technique that was pioneered in Rome to convey the nuances of light and dark within such curls. Greek sculptors sought a more realistic representation; each lock on this head varies and terminates with an individualized snail-like curl. Not only fashionable, the full head of hair, the sharp turn of the head, nude chest, casually draped cloak, and ribbon-like sword belt all evoke associations with images of Homeric heroes and the glorious past of Classical Greece. The mid-second century A.D. was a time when the Greeks endeavored to breathe new life into their ancient cultural heritage. The fusion of contemporary and heroic in this portrait bust has produced an unforgettable masterpiece.