Description

Series of Portraits of the Roman Emperors

Series of six plaster profiles of the Roman Emperors – Italy, late 18th century

Refined series of six plaster profiles depicting Roman emperors, executed in the tradition of the celebrated cameos, engraved gems and medallions of classical antiquity. The finely modelled reliefs are set within elegant oval moulded wooden frames, enhanced by a delicate beaded gilt border, and mounted on turned baluster supports in ebonised wood with square bases.

The series fully reflects the culture of Neoclassicism and the Grand Tour, particularly during the second half of the 18th century, when interest in Greco-Roman antiquity reached an extraordinary level among European aristocrats, intellectuals and collectors.

The imperial profiles, inspired by the tradition of Roman portraiture, draw upon the visual language of ancient cameos, engraved gems and Roman coinage. The strictly profile-oriented representation and the identifying inscriptions at the base of the busts give the medallions an archaeological and commemorative character, while also serving a refined decorative purpose.

The series comprises six important figures from Roman imperial history: Caligula, Nero, Vitellius, Vespasian, Otho and Domitian. Their names are indicated by inscriptions at the base of the respective busts, following a practice typical of antiquarian and Neoclassical production. The selection of these figures reflects the 18th-century popularity of collections devoted to portraits of the Roman emperors and, more broadly, to the tradition of the Twelve Caesars described by the historian Suetonius.

During the 18th century, and particularly in the context of the Grand Tour, these small portraits of antiquity were collected as refined objects of cultural and historical interest, intended for libraries, studies, private galleries and cabinets de curiosités. Their function was not merely decorative: the collection of images from antiquity represented a form of visual scholarship and a testament to the owner's antiquarian taste and erudition.

The presentation of the six medallions is particularly refined. Each is housed within an oval moulded wooden frame with a beaded gilt border and supported by an elegant baluster-shaped stand in ebonised wood. The supports, designed for the individual display of each profile, transform the series into a sophisticated decorative and collectible ensemble.

The series represents a significant testimony to the Neoclassical taste of the late 18th century and to the dissemination, through the Grand Tour, of an idealised image of Roman antiquity. The quality of the modelling, the refinement of the frames and supports, together with the aged patina, contribute to the ensemble's considerable historical, aesthetic and collectible interest.

Period: Late 18th century, Neoclassical period / Grand Tour
Place of manufacture: Italy
Material of the reliefs: Plaster
Frames: Moulded wood with beaded gilt border
Supports: Ebonised wood
Emperors depicted: Caligula, Nero, Vitellius, Vespasian, Otho and Domitian
Dimensions of the oval medallions: 7.5 × 9.5 cm each
Total height including supports: 29.5 cm
Base dimensions: 6.5 × 6.5 cm
Condition: Overall in good condition. The reliefs retain their original material characteristics and aged patina. There are signs of previous restoration, surface wear and normal traces of age, consistent with the period and nature of the objects. The frames and supports display a pleasing antique patina, further enhancing the historical and collectible character of the ensemble.