Realism, ideal beauty, and military might—explore the evolution of Roman portraits and political imagery.
A-Level: Identity – portraits in 3D works
Shown with an architectural plan in his lap, this prince constructed temples to the gods and likenesses of himself.
Seated Gudea holding temple plan
What do we gain when works come from a well-documented excavation?
The importance of the archaeological findspot: The ...
In ancient Rome, official portraits were full of political messages. What does Vespasian’s portrait say about him?
Portrait of Vespasian
Is this delicate female portrait what we think? Take part in a discussion of a masterpiece we know little about.
Portrait Bust of a Flavian Woman (Fonseca ...
This mask is a portrait of a particular woman, but was worn and danced by her male relatives.
Owie Kimou, Portrait Mask (Mblo) of Moya ...
Once identified as the founder of the Roman Republic, debate over this figure’s true identity rages on.
Capitoline Brutus
Learn how the solid, abstracted forms of these co-emperors reject earlier understanding of the human body.
Portraits of the Four Tetrarchs
Tiye was a powerful figure, but her royal life was complicated, as demonstrated through this changing statue.
Portrait Head of Queen Tiye
With age comes experience, and sculptors in the Roman Republic highlighted seniority—warts and all.
Veristic male portrait
Does the abstraction of form and faraway look in this colossal portrait hint at the growth of Christianity in Rome?
The Colossus of Constantine
Found in an artist’s studio, this stunning bust exemplifies a change in style, and may have been an early prototype.
Thutmose, Model Bust of Queen Nefertiti
Upon becoming pharaoh, Akhenaten revolutionized the religion and artistic style of Egypt—at least until his death.
House Altar depicting Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Three ...
The king did not sit for this portrait; in fact, the artist carved it without directly observing his subject.
Ndop Portrait of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul ...
Lack of an American sculptural tradition compelled Jefferson to look to France for this portrait of Washington.
Jean-Antoine Houdon, George Washington
Large stone sculptures was the principal medium for presenting Maya political and religious messages to the public.
Classic Maya portrait stelae
Due to a fortunate case of mistaken identity, this commanding statue was saved from destruction.
Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius
Nothing was more important to a Roman emperor than his image.
Augustus of Primaporta
Wrinkled, toothless, and sagging: why would the Romans emphasize these features in a portrait?
Head of a Roman Patrician
This serene statue of the pharaoh and the queen is from a temple of the Pyramid of Menkaure, undisturbed for millennia.