Portrait Of Caligula? Recut To Tiberius? Joe Geranio

[Joe Geranio]

A Portrait of Caligula? Recut to Tiberius? (MFA Head in Boston)

Joe Geranio

 

For photos go to bottom of page at: http://portraitsofcaligula.com/3/miscellaneous12.htm

 

 

This Julio-Claudian portrait located at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts is identified as possibly Drusus Germanicus? The provenance of this wonderful piece of Julio-Claudian art was said to have been found at Marmaris [ancient Physkos] on the southern coast of Caria. Purchased by the Museum of Fine Arts from Robert E. Hecht, Jr. in November of 1971. The height of the head is 37.5 cm (14 3/4 in.) and made of marble possibly from the greek island of Paros. The head is in excellent condition, with an irregular but attractive yellow patina. From the Roman Imperial Julio-Claudian period, about A.D. 30, reworked about A.D. 33. To my knowledge this head has never been published as a possible portrait of Caligula; and in D. Boschung's work "Die Bildnisse des Caligula", was not mentioned 1. I want to list how the MFA has listed the Portrait head: Bust of a Julio-Claudian man. The original subject of this bust was probably the imperial prince Drusus Germanicus, brother of the Emperor Caligula. Portraits of Drusus Germanicus show him with a hairstyle that has locks curving out from a central fork with a small 'pincer' lock on the right corner of the hairline and none on the left. Originally, this hairstyle was present here; however, the hair above the forehead has been chiseled away by someone using both a pointed and a toothed chisel. The new face bears some resemblance to the Emperor Claudius in its oval shape and also the Emperor Caligula in terms of its unusual characteristic of having the hair combed back instead of forward and down from the crown of the head. A number of Roman portraits were recarved in antiquity, particularly of individuals who had fallen out of imperial favor. The neck, which has been broken across the front, was worked for insertion in a draped (or draped and cuirassed) statue or bust. The ears are chipped, and the crown of the head has been damaged slightly.2

 

Julio-Claudian Portraiture (Sons of Germanicus)

Nero & Drusus Caesar. Died AD 31 and 33, respectively.