DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55337#0115
A ROMAN BOY
55
The modelling of the hair with broad, rather flat locks is
typical of a group of portraits from the beginning of the Imperial
age, of which this and a head in the University Museum at Phila-
delphia are the most valuable from the artistic standpoint.1 This
portrait of a sweet little boy is an admirable piece of work, the pro-
duction of an artist, and not routine work like so much in Roman art.
?!
HEAD OF A ROMAN BOY FROM THE BEGINNING OF
THE IMPERIAL AGE. (Rossie Priory.)
[Bust with foot 0-51 in height, but modern ; only head antique
and put on with cut edge. Marble. Head 0 20 in height. Restored
in marble : tip of nose, left ear, and small piece of right cheek.]
In spite of some cleaning the character of the head is well
preserved. It is a very characteristic portrait of a sickly youth with
open mouth, big eyes, and projecting back of the head. The modelling
of the hair is like that of no. 30.2 By its expression and the structure of
the head it reminds one of the fine portrait of a sick youth in Stock-
holm, which also belongs to this period.3 Sickly children are
extraordinarily common in Roman portraiture,4 probably an instance
of Roman naturalism. The portrait of a child, who died prematurely,
with the features given it by the illness of its last days, found an
assured place both in the family sepulchre and in the home, where
it might be that a little child when dead was raised into the position
of the family’s hero or protecting genius.5 Naturally there are also
examples of healthy and even very strong children among the Roman
portraits,6 and this agrees with Pliny’s statement that the surviving
1 F. Poulsen, Ikonographische Miscellen, In part also the bronze head, Burlington
p. 46 and pl. 21. Fine Arts Club Exhibition, 1904, pl. XV.
2 Cf. also Arndt-Aihelung, 1008. 5 R. Helbing, Auszuahl aus griech. In-
3 Harald Brising, Antik Konst i National- schriften, p. 124, no. 33.
museum, pl. LVIII. 6 Arndt-Amelung, ion ; Margaret
4 Arndt-Amelung, 1008. Ny Carlsberg, Wyndham, The Leconfield Collection, pl. 41.
Tillceg til Billedtavler, pl. XIV bottom.
55
The modelling of the hair with broad, rather flat locks is
typical of a group of portraits from the beginning of the Imperial
age, of which this and a head in the University Museum at Phila-
delphia are the most valuable from the artistic standpoint.1 This
portrait of a sweet little boy is an admirable piece of work, the pro-
duction of an artist, and not routine work like so much in Roman art.
?!
HEAD OF A ROMAN BOY FROM THE BEGINNING OF
THE IMPERIAL AGE. (Rossie Priory.)
[Bust with foot 0-51 in height, but modern ; only head antique
and put on with cut edge. Marble. Head 0 20 in height. Restored
in marble : tip of nose, left ear, and small piece of right cheek.]
In spite of some cleaning the character of the head is well
preserved. It is a very characteristic portrait of a sickly youth with
open mouth, big eyes, and projecting back of the head. The modelling
of the hair is like that of no. 30.2 By its expression and the structure of
the head it reminds one of the fine portrait of a sick youth in Stock-
holm, which also belongs to this period.3 Sickly children are
extraordinarily common in Roman portraiture,4 probably an instance
of Roman naturalism. The portrait of a child, who died prematurely,
with the features given it by the illness of its last days, found an
assured place both in the family sepulchre and in the home, where
it might be that a little child when dead was raised into the position
of the family’s hero or protecting genius.5 Naturally there are also
examples of healthy and even very strong children among the Roman
portraits,6 and this agrees with Pliny’s statement that the surviving
1 F. Poulsen, Ikonographische Miscellen, In part also the bronze head, Burlington
p. 46 and pl. 21. Fine Arts Club Exhibition, 1904, pl. XV.
2 Cf. also Arndt-Aihelung, 1008. 5 R. Helbing, Auszuahl aus griech. In-
3 Harald Brising, Antik Konst i National- schriften, p. 124, no. 33.
museum, pl. LVIII. 6 Arndt-Amelung, ion ; Margaret
4 Arndt-Amelung, 1008. Ny Carlsberg, Wyndham, The Leconfield Collection, pl. 41.
Tillceg til Billedtavler, pl. XIV bottom.