Bronze Bust of a Trajanic Man in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Bust of a Man
Unknown
Roman, Spain, A.D. 90 - 110
Bronze
14 15/16 in.
85.AB.110

Drawn and sagging features convey the advanced age of the man portrayed on this Roman portrait bust. The man's hairstyle--combed forward over his forehead and above his ears--allows scholars to date the work to the period from about A.D. 90 to 110, perhaps during the rule of the emperor Trajan (reigned A.D. 98 - 117).

The portrait is said to have come from Spain. In this period, the province of Spain was fully integrated into the empire; so much so that Trajan himself, the first emperor from outside Italy, came from a Roman Spanish family. Although many Roman portraits of private individuals copy the emperor's style, the extremely high quality of this portrait may suggest that this man was actually a relation or someone with close connections to the emperor.

The bust has suffered only minimal damage over time. Parts of the garment and the man's left ear have corroded. The bust has also lost its inlaid eyes.

Text from: www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=12935