Portrait of Vespasian on an Ancient Unrelated Bust

In this portrait it is possible to recognize the famous image of Emperor Vespasian, known by numerous replicas and by the ancient historical sources, which describe the Emperor as: “an old soldier of plebeian origin, with the appearance of a peasant, sunburnt in the face with the countenance of an effort... "(Bianchi Bandinelli 2016, p. 212).
The Torlonia portrait, of remarkable quality, is part of the main series, in which the features of the Emperor are immortalized with great realism. The forehead is marked by three deep horizontal wrinkles, the expressive eyes are surrounded by well rendered wrinkles, the full cheeks frame the thin lips and it has a prominent chin. Overall Vespasian is depicted with a good-tempered expression. The ancient bust, covered by armor and paludamentum, is not pertinent to the portrait and is dated to the second century BC.

Inventory: MT 536

Material: White marble

Technique: Work sculpted through the use of: chisels (also square-tipped and toothed) rasps

Dating: Imperial age

Origin: Villa Albani