Theodora the Byzantine Empress

sketchfab

This is my 2nd attempt to recreate the portrait of one of the greatest women in history. Theodora, Empress of Eastern Roman Empire, wife of Justinian I, ruled alongside her husband from 527 until her untimely death in 548. She made significant contributions to important law introductions that improved societal care, particularly for women and children: a wife's dowry was protected from separation, daughters could inherit an equal portion of the family estate, working-class women were allowed to own inns and shops, safe houses were built for repenting women, and child prostitution was banned. I took image references from the only known statue, the head of Theodora, from the collection of Castello Sforzesco in Milano, as well as from the famous mosaics in Basilica San Vitale in Ravenna. https://arteantica.milanocastello.it/it/content/scultore-bizantino-testa-femminile-detta-di-teodora Note: This is an artistic interpretation. A basic mesh was developed in Maya, while textures and paint were finished in Mudbox. @remakingTheodora was a thrilling exploration, so much that I might recreate her for the third time..