Greco-Roman
Greek Scholar or Man of Affairs or Intellect, 1st century BCE - 2nd century CE
Pentelic marble, 52 x 32.4 x 24.8 cm (20 1/2 x 12 3/4 x 9 3/4 in.)
This vertical bust of a man is either Greek or Roman and made of pentelic marble. The man’s head is facing toward us, with pursed lips, and worn nose. He has a full head of hair, a downturned mustache, and a long beard, all of which are wavy. His shoulders are bare, his back is flat, and there are rectangular recesses where his arms would be. The marble has a decided orange cast. The bust rests on a predominantly red marble circular column.
Long Gallery
Commentary
With thick locks of wavy hair arranged on the forehead and a stylized beard, this bust aligns with depictions of philosophers from the Epicurean school, whose central idea focused on the pursuit of pleasure. The likenesses of Epicurus, the founder of the philosophy, and his friends Hermarchus and Metrodorus are preserved in Roman copies of the 3rd century BCE original sculpture.
Although unconfirmed, Isabella’s Roman bust closely resembles portraits of Hermarchus of Mytilene, Epicurus’s successor. The elaborately sculpted hair and beard are marks of the philosopher’s traditionalism and identification with the Athenian elite, while the furrowed brows are marks of a serious thinker.