Friday, May 19, 2017

MASSIMO PALACE - NATIONAL ROMAN MUSEUM (fifth part)

SECOND FLOOR - Statues of the Imperial Period
First Room - Room of the charioteers
“Eight herms of charioteers” from the Shrine of Hercules Cubans (hypothetical attribution), in the area of Viale Trastevere
“Plotina” about 120, Trajan's wife, from the Baths of Neptune in Ostia
“The personality of Plotina influenced a lot the formation of Hadrian and, according to sources, even his rise to power: linked to Hadrian with an almost maternal deep friendship if not a love affair, she would have reached the point of falsifying the last will of her husband in his favor. The belated evidence of gratitude from Hadrian shown on coins from the year 134 for the woman who had opened the doors of power for him, giving him also her niece Sabina - daughter of Matidia, sister of Trajan - as wife, was probably due to his intent to minimize the rumors about their alleged relationship” (Elena Calandra)
“Statue of Trajan-Heracles”
“Two portraits of Sabina” wife of Hadrian, one from the Victor Emmanuel Monument area with significant traces of colors and one from the Appian Way
“Hadrian” about 117 from S. Bibiana
“The fact that Hadrian used to wear a beard, expression of his philhellenism and function connoting the concept of sapientia (knowledge), plays a crucial role also from a formal point of view. Along with the curly and plastic locks of hair, it works as an element of vivid chiaroscuro contrast with the smooth and bright surfaces of the face. In a solidly classical composition is introduced therefore, albeit still mildly, an idea of plasticity and baroque exuberance that will find a strong emphasis in later portraits” (Gian Luca Grassigli - TMG)
“Antinous” from the Magna Mater field at Ostia with the faces of two unidentified people in the diadem, perhaps Nerva and Hadrian and traces of red in his hair
It is believed that at least 2,000 statues of Antinous existed in ancient times of which only about 115 are currently extant
“Funerary relief of the Decii” from the Via Ostiense
“Heroic Antoninus Pius” from Terracina with chlamys buckled on the shoulder maybe like the Diomede Cuma-Monaco type of the fifth century BC widely used by public figures and Roman emperors
“Two portraits of Antoninus Pius” one from Formia and one from an unknown location
“Statue of Faustina Minor” wife of Marcus Aurelius with head maybe not relevant, of the so called praying type perhaps a reworking of a type created for Livia
“Two friezes of Provinces” (maybe Thrace and Egypt) from the Temple of Hadrian
Fourth Room - Period of Marcus Aurelius (161/180) and Commodus (180/192)
“Statue of Lucilla” sister of Marcus Aurelius
“Portrait of Crispina” wife of Commodus

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