DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15101#0073
PLATE XXII.
BUST OF JULIUS CiESAR.
A bust turned upwards to the right, and exhibiting a pourtrait
of mature age, with little or very short hair upon it, and no indi-
cations of either whiskers or beard. The physiognomy is "very
remarkable, and the mouth, in its close compression, suggests a
character of firmness and resolution, not wholly devoid of cunning
and astuteness. The neck is singularly thin, long, and wrinkled,
and points to a more advanced age than might have been antici-
pated from the rest of the head.
It has been usual to attribute this bust to Julius Cassar; but
there have not been wanting critics who have strenuously main-
tained that it is really a pourtrait of Cicero. We cannot, however,
acquiesce in this view, having no doubt that it is really intended
as a representation of the great dictator. With regard to the
resemblance to Cicero, it must be remarked that scarcely any
undoubted pourtrait of him has been preserved, with the exception
of that on the coin of Magnesia, of which town he was Pro-Prsetor.
With the pourtrait, however, on this coin (even if it can be
deemed unquestionable) it cannot be said that the bust before us
exhibits any real resemblance; on the other hand, it does show
some analogy with the heads of Julius Csesar preserved on the
restored coins of Trajan: these, however, are naturally of com-
paratively little use in determining this question, as they evidently
lack the value of contemporaneous representations. But though
there has been this difference of opinion, it may be truly asserted
BUST OF JULIUS CiESAR.
A bust turned upwards to the right, and exhibiting a pourtrait
of mature age, with little or very short hair upon it, and no indi-
cations of either whiskers or beard. The physiognomy is "very
remarkable, and the mouth, in its close compression, suggests a
character of firmness and resolution, not wholly devoid of cunning
and astuteness. The neck is singularly thin, long, and wrinkled,
and points to a more advanced age than might have been antici-
pated from the rest of the head.
It has been usual to attribute this bust to Julius Cassar; but
there have not been wanting critics who have strenuously main-
tained that it is really a pourtrait of Cicero. We cannot, however,
acquiesce in this view, having no doubt that it is really intended
as a representation of the great dictator. With regard to the
resemblance to Cicero, it must be remarked that scarcely any
undoubted pourtrait of him has been preserved, with the exception
of that on the coin of Magnesia, of which town he was Pro-Prsetor.
With the pourtrait, however, on this coin (even if it can be
deemed unquestionable) it cannot be said that the bust before us
exhibits any real resemblance; on the other hand, it does show
some analogy with the heads of Julius Csesar preserved on the
restored coins of Trajan: these, however, are naturally of com-
paratively little use in determining this question, as they evidently
lack the value of contemporaneous representations. But though
there has been this difference of opinion, it may be truly asserted