Presumed Portrait Of Domitian - Marble Bas-relief, Italy, 16th Century

This charming marble bas-relief depicts a man in profile, who can be identified as the Roman Emperor Domitian. He wears a laurel wreath placed delicately on his wavy curls, an important iconographic detail that allows us to immediately recognize his imperial status. The laurel wreath is a powerful symbol of the emperor's military triumphs, but it also evokes immortality, thus emphasizing the power and longevity of his reign. Domitian is a Roman emperor who reigned from 81 to 96 BC, he is part of the line of the "twelve Caesars." His reign contributed to the influence of Rome, notably with the construction of numerous temples such as the Capitoline and Jupiter temples. He is also at the origin of the Capitoline Games, which take place every four years. A man of letters, he thus wanted to make Rome a cultural capital. The emperor presents himself as a god, dressed in a purple toga and a gold laurel wreath. The end of his reign was marked by tyranny, persecuting anyone who went against his rule. He is often depicted in profile, with a laurel wreath attached to the back of his head, he is distinguished from other Roman emperors by full cheeks as well as a powerful and robust neck and a straight nose. This is fully noticeable with these examples preserved in the Louvre and the Museum of Antiquities in Rouen. It was during the Renaissance that sculptors fully rediscovered classical art, its forms and its naturalism, once again adopting marble as a noble material, in homage to the Greco-Roman heritage. The prevalence of marble is also linked to the disappearance of the original Greek bronzes, many of which were melted down or lost, while the Romans themselves had created numerous marble copies. Furthermore, its use makes it possible to make this emperor eternal by guaranteeing him a longevity marked by a transmission of his memory. Thus, the representation of an emperor in marble becomes characteristic of this period, although many series of portraits of Roman emperors were made at this time, this fragment is distinguished by the exceptional quality of its execution. The modeling, both firm and flexible, which gives the sculpture a striking realism, typical of the artistic mastery of the 16th century. Dimensions: H. 27 cm. x W: 21 cm. (without the base)