Portrait of a man ("Marius")
Culture: Roman
Date: mid-20th century copy of a Roman portrait of the 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.
Medium: Marble
Dimensions:
16 5/8 × 9 5/8 × 11 in. (42.3 × 24.5 × 28 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, Gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 86.134.94
Provenance: sold by Ivo del Borgo, Rome, to Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. (1921-2004), San Antonio, 1963; Gilbert M. Denman, Jr., by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 1986
Label Text
This melodramatic male head is actually a modern copy of a well-known Roman portrait in the Glyptothek, Munich. The forger emulated the damage to the face and ears of the Munich portrait and exaggerated the man’s emotional expression. The Munich head was
once identified as a portrait of the Roman general and statesman Marius (157-86 B.C.). This identification is no longer accepted by most scholars, who continue to debate the man’s identity. (J. Powers, 2012)
once identified as a portrait of the Roman general and statesman Marius (157-86 B.C.). This identification is no longer accepted by most scholars, who continue to debate the man’s identity. (J. Powers, 2012)
Not on view
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
