Colossal Portrait of Claudius on Modern Bust

The portrait, characterized by an absorbed expression and thoughtful concentration, depicts the Emperor Claudius, Caligula's successor. The majestic portrait shows realistic rendering of the facial features, as denoted by the furrowed brow marked by deep wrinkles and nasolabial folds surrounding the mouth. The Torlonia portrait belongs to the group of replicas of the so-called main type; in which the ruler is depicted with an oak corona civica, symbol of power which alludes to the designation of Claudius as pater patriae. The colossal portrait, from the Giustiniani Collection, is placed on a modern bust with lorica and paludamentum.

Inventory: MT 194

Material: White marble

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

Dating: Imperial age

Origin: Giustiniani Collection