Portrait of a Roman Woman

myminifactory

Private portrait sculpture was most closely tied to funerary settings where it played a significant role. Funerary altars and tomb structures featured portrait reliefs of the deceased, highlighting notable family members or patrons alongside brief descriptions of their lives. Portrait busts accompanied cinerary urns placed in niches within large communal tombs known as columbaria. This funerary context for portrait sculpture was deeply rooted in a long-standing tradition of displaying wax portrait masks called imagines during funeral processions of the upper classes to honor their distinguished lineage. These masks, portraits of ancestors who had held public office or received special honors, were proudly displayed in household lararia, or family shrines, alongside bronze, marble, or terracotta busts. By showcasing these portraits so prominently in public spaces, aristocratic families celebrated their history of public service while paying tribute to their deceased relatives.