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Portrait Of Emperor Septimius Severus (193—211 Ad) Richárd Káldi (cast maker)

Artist

Richárd Káldi (cast maker) Győr, 1975 –

Place of production Budapest, Richárd Káldi
Date 2020 (plaster cast), 200-210 AD (original)
Object type plaster cast
Medium, technique plaster
Dimensions

38 x 23 x 23 cm

Inventory number Ag.334
Collection Classical Antiquites - Plaster casts
On view Star Fortress (Komárom), Komárom – Brigetio (temporary exhibition), Limes Gallery

A characteristic feature of the image of the commander-turned emperor is the three locks of curly hair falling over the forehead. It is reminiscent of the god Sarapis, whom the ruler considered as one of the most important deities. The emperor’s long beard recalls that of Marcus Aurelius, a predecessor that he regarded as one of his models. Like on the plaster cast, there is a small knob on the chin of the marble portrait in Munich as well, and there had been similar knobs on the locks falling over the forehead. These were used as measurement points that helped the sculptor copy the statue precisely onto a new block of stone. When the work was finished, one of the knobs was left unpolished on the marble statue to show that it is an exact replica. (You can read more about the ancient methods of copying large sculptures in the Colleoni Hall.)

The exhibited copy was made of the plaster cast held in the Savaria Museum, Szombathely in 2020.

References

Hekler, Antal, Az antik gipszgyűjtemény I-II., Budapest, 1919-1920, 1923, no. no. 411.

This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.

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