Rome's history in four faces at The Met

Portrait of a Man, late 1st century B.C.E., marble, 31.5 x 19.7 x 19.7 cm.; portrait bust of the emperor Gaius, known as Caligula, 37-41 C.E., marble, 50.8 x 18 cm; bust of the emperor Hadrian, 118-120 C.E., marble; and portrait of the emperor Caracalla, 212-17 C.E., marble, 36.2 cm high (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Speakers: Dr. Jeffrey Becker and Dr. Beth Harris

[trax-]

The veristic portraits depict old people. Augustus came to power and established his image as a younger man and Caligula never got the chance to get old. Just something to keep in mind. Caracalla's portraits don't look anxious to me - they convey fury and brutality - some maybe even madness.

[mdstanton]

That portrait of Caracalla has been my phone background for about 4 years. One of my fav sculptures ever and he looks pretty damn handsome too

[reybladen]

Octavian known as Augustus became consul when he was 19 which was very young, I guess the latter emperors idolized him for having large achievements at such a young age.

[creepinwhileyousleepin]

The artisans that chiseled this stuff were just on another level.

[marta]

Out of all four portraits, the image of Hadrian is the is the most interesting one.

Not so distant, more subtle, more human. He seems to be the one who is open-minded, ready to discuss, almost focused on you - the viewer. With the half opened mouth, ready to speak seems to be listening to you closely.

He was the person who ruled over the empire skillfully, the one that was able to provide for the future and think ahead. (The most beautiful thing about Hadrian, in my opinion, was that he was able to look for a suitable future ruler of the empire and finding a bright, intelligent teenage boy named Marcus Aurelius secured his education and position as the future emperor. Marcus was too young to be Hadrian's immediate successor, so Hadrian appointed Antoninus Pius but made him promise that the young boy will become the next emperor. So he was able to think about the future of the emipre in the scope of next 20-30 years. Not only about his rule but about the continuity of Rome.)

Hadrian. The restless traveller, builder, lover of the Greek traditions. And I think this sculpture shows it all.

Caligula is very distant, very god-like, you feel immediatelly you should almost feel fear and trembling and adoration. Caracalla, on the other hand, seems to be enraged, brutal, you can see his anger and will power radiating from the sculpture and you cannot be comfortable with this image either. And Hadrian with his bright personality makes his message very clear and in a way mesmerising, intelletually seductive. You got the sense of divine but also the sense of deep humanity.

And, BTW, his hair-style is so hot ;) You're right he's modelling his image after the Greek philosophers

[SheIsTristine]

I miss the other guy!! His voice was so soothing.

[suzettehenderson]

Caracalla doesn't look anxious, he looks angry.

[ashharris]

When Augustus became "Augustus" he was still in his 30's. The republican busts were of men in their late 50s or older. Gaius was only 20 or 21 in that bust so it would be no surprise that he looks young...he was.

[uriszardealdaca]

Thank you very much to both of you for the information and education you provide.

[christianfrommuslim]

Excellent sculptural assemblage of Roman leaders and how their depictions reveal the zeitgeist of their times.

[MultiCappie]

What a wonderful discussion of art, craft, politics, and history.

[ItinerantIntrovert]

I live right next to the met. Its cool to know I can walk right in there and see this stuff. Thanks for the info :)

[jsmcguireIII]

The word "senate" is derived from "senex" for elderly - thus Senatus Romanus was the "Assembly of Roman Elders" which confirms a high level of power held by these older wealthy elite. These men would certainly have decided what (and who) was depicted in stone.

[HaiderAlZubaidi]

Beautiful sculptures, and great analysis, I love the Met

[Kaiserohnepurpur]

You've made an ardent lover of Roman art very happy, gratias vobis ago! If I may, a video similar to this but instead focuses on four faces in late antiquity would be a great sequel.

[lastevolution]

gaius aka caligula was murdered in his 20s, he WAS young. He's not "presenting himself as eternally youthful" he never got to live to old age

[GJ-djjx]

Fascinating! Looking forward to your next video.

[tiodeniz]

I wish I found your channel earlier...

[gfrtube]

Do more videos about Egyptian art and architecture (columns outside the classical orders)😀😀😀

[c_turtle]

Excellent! So many interesting ideas. Thank-you.