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Portrait of a Bearded Man

Date ca. 190–200
Object type sculpture
Medium, technique carved, marble
Dimensions

33 × 22.5 × 10 cm

Inventory number 4813
Collection Classical Antiquities
On view Museum of Fine Arts, Basement Floor, Classical Antiquity, The ancient Mediterranean

The half-portrait illustrates the artistic solutions that characterised the sculptural representation of the human face from the 2nd century AD. The iris of the eye is marked by a thin circle, and the pupil by two incised lines, giving greater emphasis to the gaze. The plastically modelled tresses are separated by deep notches which make distinct light and dark bands alternate on the portrait, while the beard is rendered by fine incisions recalling eiderdown.

Marble analyses have shown that the portrait was made of Göktepe marble.

This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.

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