Head of a Balding Man in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Head of a Balding Man
Roman, made in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), about AD 240
Marble

Inventory # 85.AA.112

This head of a mature man exemplifies the tradition of realism in Roman portraiture. Details such as the prominent cheekbones, the asymmetrical features, and the balding head are all strikingly individual. The artful contrast of textures between the smooth, highly polished skin and the deeply drilled curls of the hair and beard attest to the sculpture's high level of craftsmanship.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.