Herm Bust of Perikles
Title
Herm Bust of Perikles
Date
440 BC
Artist or Workshop
Kresilas
Materials
Marble
Height of the work
60 cm tall
Provenience
Europe, Italy, Tivoli, Villa of Cassius
Current Location
British Museum
Sitter Biography
Perikles was a Greek statesman, orator, and general of the Athenian army during the Peloponnesian and Persian Wars. He was known to have a long head, which is why artists typically created his portraits with the Corinthian helmet. He loved the arts, so he commissioned works to be displayed on the Athenian Acropolis.
Description and Significance
Description:
The herm bust depicts the head and neck of Perikles. Its width ends before the shoulders and sits atop a rectangular base. There is an inscription at the base of the herm in Greek. Perikles is sculpted from white marble and depicted as an adult. He is sculpted with a curly beard and moustache, with curly hair peeking out from under the helmet. The helmet sits on top of his head to allow his face to show. He looks to his left with his and tilts his head slightly to his left.¬ His lips are slightly parted and has broad eyelids. The face is mask-like with no emotion showing through and an absence of facial expression.
Significance:
The Greek inscription reads, "Perikles." The helmet depicted is the Corinthian helmet, and shows Perikles as strategos, a military general. The helmet is to cover his unusual, elongated head. The slight tilt and turn of his head to the left suggests that Pericles would be in a contrappasto pose had this been a fully sculpted work. The parted lips suggest that he is alive and can breathe. The mask-like depiction is important to Perikles as strategos because it shows that he can be calm and serene during battle. This is a quality that could be credited to his militaristic victories and is typical generalization during the Classical period.
The herm bust depicts the head and neck of Perikles. Its width ends before the shoulders and sits atop a rectangular base. There is an inscription at the base of the herm in Greek. Perikles is sculpted from white marble and depicted as an adult. He is sculpted with a curly beard and moustache, with curly hair peeking out from under the helmet. The helmet sits on top of his head to allow his face to show. He looks to his left with his and tilts his head slightly to his left.¬ His lips are slightly parted and has broad eyelids. The face is mask-like with no emotion showing through and an absence of facial expression.
Significance:
The Greek inscription reads, "Perikles." The helmet depicted is the Corinthian helmet, and shows Perikles as strategos, a military general. The helmet is to cover his unusual, elongated head. The slight tilt and turn of his head to the left suggests that Pericles would be in a contrappasto pose had this been a fully sculpted work. The parted lips suggest that he is alive and can breathe. The mask-like depiction is important to Perikles as strategos because it shows that he can be calm and serene during battle. This is a quality that could be credited to his militaristic victories and is typical generalization during the Classical period.
References
Dillon, Sheila. “Displaying Portraits of the Greeks.” Ancient Greek Portrait Sculpture: Contexts, Subjects and Styles. Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp. 42–57.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=461658&partId=1
PLUTARCH, PLUTARCH. PLUTARCH'S LIVES,: Translated from the Original Greek. FORGOTTEN BOOKS, 2017.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=461658&partId=1
PLUTARCH, PLUTARCH. PLUTARCH'S LIVES,: Translated from the Original Greek. FORGOTTEN BOOKS, 2017.
Contributor
Isabella Laurel
Citation
Kresilas, “Herm Bust of Perikles,” Digital Portrait "Basket" - ARTH488A - "Ancient Mediterranean Portraiture", accessed May 20, 2024, https://classicalchopped2.artinterp.org/omeka/items/show/17.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.