Roman Applique with Two Men in the Getty Villa, June 2016

Title: Relief Fragment of Two Men

Artist/Maker: Unknown

Date: A.D. 50–75

Medium: Bronze

Dimensions: 26 × 13.8 × 6 cm (10 1/4 × 5 7/16 × 2 3/8 in.)

Place: Roman Empire (Place Created)

Culture: Roman

Object Number: 85.AB.109

Alternate Titles: Relief with Two Togate Magistrates (Alternate Title) Two Men Wearing Togas (Alternate Title)

Department: Antiquities

Classification: Sculpture

Object Type: Male portrait

Two men wearing togas turn to look at some action to their right. As is clear from the break of the piece on the right, they are all that remains of what was once a larger bronze relief frieze. Who do these men represent, and what was the subject of the frieze? The figures are clearly different ages and show strongly individualized, almost portrait-like features. The older man carries a scroll, which probably marks him as a priest. The larger scene may have shown some kind of sacrifice to the gods. Stylistic features of the figures' clothing and hairstyles date the relief to the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.

The back of these figures is completely unfinished. This relief was reportedly found with the Statuette of a Goddess, probably Ceres, and the Statuette of Roma or Virtus. Together all of these pieces seem to have formed a group of relief sculpture, which may have served as appliqué decorating the same object, perhaps a chariot or a piece of furniture.

Text from: www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103VPH#full-artwork-details



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Applique with Two Men
Roman, 50-75 AD
Bronze

Inventory # 85.AB.109

Clothes and other attributes indicated the public roles of men in Rome. The togas worn by these two men establish their upper-class status. The figure on the right wears the shoes of a senator and holds a scroll that identifies him as a priest or an official. The figure on the left wears the shoes of a knight. Their distinctive features suggest that they represent specific individuals.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.