Comments on: A Roman Emperor Sojourns at the Getty Villa

By: Fiorenza Grasso

Fiorenza Grasso — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:59:02 +0000

I wish you lots of luck!!!!!!

By: Andrea Milanese

Andrea Milanese — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:36:14 +0000

another adventure begins… exciting! All the best

By: David Saunders

David Saunders — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:11:00 +0000

Janis – the inscription was found three days after the statue, and names the figure (curiously, though, in early publications, the statue received other attributions – Drusus or Germanicus. Given how thoroughly Roman portraiture has now been studied, we can be confident that it’s Tiberius). But it is certainly idealized. As noted above, it was set up at the end of Tiberius’s life, so when he was in his seventies. But the face of this figure is that of a much younger man.

By: Janis

Janis — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:54:58 +0000

Ah okay, just saw the comment about the inscription, which presumably tells the viewer who it is. It still looks awfully idealized, though. Strange.

By: Janis

Janis — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:47:03 +0000

How do you know that it’s an image of Tiberius? I’m curious partly because it looks awfully idealized, and most of the Roman portrait statues I’ve seen are pretty realistic looking, even of the emperors. So I’m wondering how you guys know that this is a portrait of a particular person as opposed to just a random Greek-style statue of a Roman dude.

By: Bill Storage

Bill Storage — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 04:22:40 +0000

I’ll make a special trip from San Francisco!

By: Joe Geranio

Joe Geranio — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 23:10:47 +0000

This is wonderful, as administrator of the Julio Claudian Iconographic Association and living in California, this will be wonderful to see!! Thanks to the Getty Villa.

By: Professor McD

Professor McD — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:56:04 +0000

It’s the ring he is wearing.

By: BMW

BMW — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:27:41 +0000

Out of curiosity, what is the little circular object sketched next to the statue in the engraving? Is it some sort of fibula, or is it a ritual tool that was held in the statue’s hand?