This impressive head of the first Christian emperor of Rome, known as Constantine the Great, fuses imperial power with spiritual authority. By the time he established himself as emperor, Constantine had adopted an official image, characterized by a clean-shaven face and neatly arranged hairstyle, that set him apart from his immediate predecessors. The large, upturned eyes connected the emperor with higher powers, asserting his divine right to rule over the empire. Evidence suggests that this head was fashioned from an earlier portrait of the emperor Trajan (reigned 98–117). Whether part of a standing or seated figure, this monumental portrait dominated a large public space, likely in Rome, where it presided over Constantine’s subjects.
#1203. Marble portrait head of the Emperor Constantine I, Part 1
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1203. Marble portrait head of the Emperor Constantine I, Part 1
1204. Marble portrait head of the Emperor Constantine I
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Artwork Details
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Title:Marble portrait head of the Emperor Constantine I
Period:Late Imperial, Constantinian
Date:ca. 325–370 CE
Culture:Roman
Medium:Marble
Dimensions:Height: 37 1/2 in. (95.3 cm) Width: 23 in. (58.4 cm) Depth: 26 1/2 in. (67.3 cm) Weight: 1100lb. (499 kg)
Classification:Stone Sculpture
Credit Line:Bequest of Mary Clark Thompson, 1923
Accession Number:26.229
Said to be from Rome
From before 1631 and until 1902, in the Giustiniani Collection, Rome; 1902, purchased from the Giustiniani family through Giuseppe Sangiorgi by Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson (Mary Clark Thompson), New York; 1902-1923, collection of Mary Clark Thompson; acquired in 1926, bequest of Mary Clark Thompson.
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