A Hellenistic Look at Portrait of A Man
Romanness Represented in Art Associated With The Face of Rome
Dec 11, 2008
"The Portrait of A Man" represents what it means to be Roman. The bust is of a serious and responsible elder man who had probably earned prestige and respect fighting in wars and climbing the political scale. His grim demeanor shows that the man has accepted his fate in serving his country as best he could. Though, this is just an interpretation and may not be historical fact.
Veristic Details of "The Portrait of A Man"This Roman hero is represented in a veristic fashion. Veristic meaning with severe or harsh realism emphasized by the solemn demeanor that only a serious Roman could muster. This elder man is riddled with wrinkles and randomother age markings –- age spots, wrinkles, blemishes. This depiction of the man's face is a very acurate representation of reality. There was much technical work put into this piece, the details are all very astute. Everything from the furrowed brow all the way to the crows' feet illustrate a man who was captured in time.
"The Portrait of A Man" In Relation to "The Face of Rome"While both sculptures are veristic in style, this is not the only similarity between "The Portrait of A Man" and "The Face of Rome." Images associated with "The Face of Rome" are most likely seen as prime visual markers of true "Romanness." Their images are both a bid for the kudos of seniority as well as an example of the good faith of an honest citizen in unconcealed authenticity.
"The Portrait of A Man" very much fits with the aforementioned description. It is a very realistic sculpture of a regular Roman man, his flaws are not hidden. They are displayed for all to see and there is deep characterization in the faces of both sculptures. The man in this sculpture is aged because the Romans held elders in high regard. So, it was natural to depict the man in such a manner. It is a deep contrast to the artistic representation of Greek men who were idolized for their youth.
Controversy Surrounding "The Portrait of A Man"While historians and critics alike may speculate that this piece is steeped in realism, there is no actual way to measure this validity of these musings. There is no means of comparing the subject of the portrait to the portrait itself. So, historians and critics can say that by adding details such as wrinkles and age spots to a sculpture aid in its realism, there is really no way to tell. The details may have been added for a dramatic flair or embellished for their aesthetic value. The image may or may not be true and there is no way to tell.
