Artwork # 2
Subtopic: Portraiture
Bust of
Commodus
c. AD 190
But first...a list of Emperors
Julio-Claudian dynasty
 Augustus 27BC- AD14
 Tiberius AD14 - 37
 Caligula AD37 – 41
 Claudius AD 41- 54
 Nero AD54- 68
Year of 4 emperors
(AD 68 –AD69)
 Galba
 Otho
 Vitellius
Flavian Dynasty
 Vespasian AD69-79
 Titus AD79-81
 Domitian AD 81-96
Trajanic Dynasty
 Nerva AD96-98
 Trajan AD98-117
 Hadrian AD117-138
Antonine Dynasty
 Antoninus Pius AD138-161
 Marcus Aurelius AD161- 180
 Lucis Verus AD161-169
 Commodus AD177-192
Severan dynasty
 (11 emperors)
Emperors during the height of
crisis AD 235-268
 Philip the Arabian
 Many others (constant change)

Constantine AD 337-307
ANTONINES
Antoninus
Pius
Marcus
Aurelius
Commodus
Introduction to portraiture
Roman Imperial sculpture (Imperial = Sculpture that
commissioned by the current Emperor) was made to be
seen. It was not created for private enjoyment but was
put in a public place to commemorate and glorify and
individual or dynasty (family rule).
There are 2 types of sculpture:
 Relief (sculptured into stone)
 Portrait sculpture
Sculpture was is a powerful source of political
propaganda which generations of emperors used. They
modelled themselves in stone as victorious generals, the
bringers of peace and prosperity, and later even in the
image of gods. Statues and relief sculpture were also
used to commemorate specific events and to remind the
people of their Emperor’s military skills.
Political Propaganda in Roman Art

Definition: Propaganda is a intended set of
messages aimed at influencing the opinions or
behavior of large numbers of people. Instead of
providing information that is unbiased,
propaganda presents information in order to
influence its audience.

Propaganda in art is symbols and images to
encourage the people to believe a particular
thing about someone – which may or may not be
true.
 What
Kind of
Personality does
this person look like
they have? What
are some signs of
this?
Emperor Commodus as
p. 72
Hercules workbook
Architectural type: Bust. The opposite style to
verism, this is idealism (facial features are
simplified, shows and idealised and glorified
version, usually of the emperor.)
Purpose: To make the Emperor Commodus look
like the God Hercules and thereby associate him
with superhuman abilities and Hercules’
strength, power, immortality and divinity.
Date: See Paul Artus book p.85
Dimensions and Materials used: 1.18 metres high
& marble
Emperor Commodus as Hercules
workbook p.73
 This
sculpture has features which belong
to the ‘Antonine Baroque’ Explain what this
means: Write down the notes under ‘style’
in Paul Artus.
Emperor Commodus as Hercules
workbook p.73
Cheeks &
forehead
Hair &
Beard
Hand
Eyes and
eyelids
Chest
The next slide has notes. Write them
in here.
The eyes are not
painted. They are
incised into the
iris. He has heavy
eyelids that droop
over his iris.
He glances to the
left, an arrogant
attitude, turns his
head away from
the viewer
Eyes upturned
with arched
eyebrows.
This all
combines
to create a
sense of
Sleepy
Sensuality
Emperor Commodus as Hercules
workbook p.73
Cheeks &
forehead
Hair &
Beard
Hand
Eyes and
eyelids
Chest
The next slide has notes. Write them
in here.
The textured
hairy paws of the
lion skin contrast
the polished,
smooth Powerful
musculature of
his chest
Emperor Commodus as Hercules
workbook p.73
Cheeks &
forehead
Hair &
Beard
Hand
Eyes and
eyelids
Chest
The next slide has notes. Write them
in here.
His hair: deeply
drilled, detailed &
elaborate curls have
contrasts of light
and dark areas, to
create shadows on
the work. His hair
contrasts with the
smooth highly
polished skin –
creating a theatrical
effect.
Emperor Commodus as Hercules
workbook p.73
Cheeks &
forehead
Hair &
Beard
Hand
Eyes and
eyelids
Chest
Polished marble gives a youthful
appearance.
Symbol:
Hercules lion skin (from
the 1st of the 12 labours,
killing the Nemean Lion)
Symbol:
Hercules
club.
p.74 of your
Workbooks
fill In the
tables
Symbol:
Girdle of Hippolyta
(Amazon queen). The
9th labour. He killed her
& defeated the
Amazons
Symbol:
Amazon woman
– represents the
killing of the
amazon women,
Apples of the
Herispides. (the 11th
labour)
Symbol:
Amazon sheild has a
gorgon medusa head
on it, referring to a
greek myth
Symbol:
‘Orbis Terrarum’ (orb of
the world) Has a band
across it, which shows
signs of the zodiac,
taurus (bull), capricorn
(goat), and scorpio
(scorpian) – important
moments in Commodus
life
Symbol:
Cornucopiae, a ‘horn of
plenty’ full of fruit,
representing prosperity,
fertility and abundance.
Represents the new
golden age that
Commodus has brough
Symbol:
Rosettes on orbis
terrarum (orb of the
world) represent stars
p.74 of your workbooks
 In
this box give a brief biography of
Commodus:
Find & write the information ‘History’ in paul
artus. Then add this info:
• Called himself ‘Amazonius’ in his Last years
• Son of the previous emperor, Marcus
Aurelius. He spent the first 3 years reigning
with his father
• He wanted to change the names of the
months to his nicknames.
• Destroyed the social and political stability
that Rome had experienced for 60 years
Complete all questions on
p.75 of your workbook. Use
Paul Artus to help you
Write this next to the image of
Commodus:
Upper torso is Precariously
balanced on the base
The whole bust shows him
as powerful, arrogant, godlike, idealised.
Work to do………
 “Art
of the Roman Empire” ( Paul Artus
Study Notes) p. 84
“
Roman Art and Architecture” (Johnathan
Campbell) p. 32
 Workbook,
p.