Bronze statue of a man

Unknown

ca. mid-2nd-1st century BCE · Bronze · Greek and Roman Art

The figure stands in contrapposto. His right hand stretches out from the folds of his himation, with open palm and fingers curled upward in a gesture of oration. His left arm lays close to his body. The himation is kept in place in part by a tasselled weight, thrown over his left shoulder, which hangs at his calf. A rare detail, several horizontal bands decorate the fabric, and may have been painted or gilded. The indication of his musculature and anatomy continues underneath his garment. Honorific statues like this one were typically portraits of prominent individuals awarded by the city-state or ruler in gratitude for significant benefactions. They were the highest honor that a city could offer. This impressive figure stands in contrapposto. His right hand stretches out from the folds of his himation (cloak), with open palm and fingers curled upward in a gesture of oration. His left arm lies close to his body. The himation is kept in place in part by the tasseled weight thrown over his left shoulder, which hangs at his calf, and the indication of his musculature and anatomy continues underneath his garment. The several horizontal bands that decorate the fabric,which may have been painted or gilded, comprise a rare detail.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. mid-2nd-1st century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Greek

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer, 2001