Part 2 Galerie des portraits

Portrait of a child

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Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Portrait of a child
Date de création
Approximately 150 - 160
Material
Göktepe marble, district 3 (Turkey)
Dimensions
H. 20 x l. 17,5 x P. 18 (cm)
Inventory number
Ra 126

Once again, as in the child’s portrait that dates back to Hadrian’s time (inv. Ra 124), the abundant mass of hair bears witness to the expertise of a sculptor who was highly skilled in reproducing curls. These sophisticated wavy locks contrast with the smooth face and its highly polished marble surface.

This work, which is similar to a head in Trier (Germany), could be that of a young prince. Perhaps he was one of the first two sons of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger, Titus Aelius Antoninus, born in 152, or Titus Aelius Aurelius, born in 158, both of whom died in infancy. Yet in the absence of a replica from an official context, there is no evidence of this.

According to J.-C. Balty 2012, Les portraits romains, 1 : Le siècle des Antonins, 1.2 (Sculptures antiques de Chiragan (Martres-Tolosane), Toulouse, p. 243-248.

Bibliography

  • Balty, Cazes, Rosso 2012 J.-C. Balty, D. Cazes, E. Rosso, Les portraits romains, 1 : Le siècle des Antonins, 1.2 (Sculptures antiques de Chiragan (Martres-Tolosane), Toulouse
    .     p. 70-72, fig. 68-70, p. 245-247, fig. 174-178
  • Espérandieu 1908 É. Espérandieu, Recueil général des bas-reliefs de la Gaule romaine, 2. Aquitaine, Paris
    .     p. 85, no 991
  • Eydoux 1962 H.P. Eydoux, La France antique, Paris
    .     p. 186, fig. 204
  • Fittschen 1999 K. Fittschen, Prinzenbildnisse antoninischer Zeit (Beiträge zur Erschliessung hellenistischer und kaiserzeitlicher Skulptur und Architektur), Mainz
    .     p. 92, no 90, pl. 170 a, b, c, d
  • Joulin 1901 L. Joulin, Les établissements gallo-romains de la plaine de Martres-Tolosane, Paris
    .     p. 120, no 288, pl. XXI, no 288 D
  • Rachou 1912 H. Rachou, Catalogue des collections de sculpture et d’épigraphie du musée de Toulouse, Toulouse
    .     p. 61, no 126
  • Musée Saint-Raymond 2011 Musée Saint-Raymond, L’image et le pouvoir : le siècle des Antonins. Exhibition, Musée Saint-Raymond, Toulouse, 19 November 2011 - 18 March 2012, Toulouse
    .     p. 82-83
  • Musée Saint-Raymond 2007 Musée Saint-Raymond, Marbres cachés de Martres-Tolosane : \OE uvres du musée des Antiques de Toulouse. Exhibition, Martres-Tolosane, 22 June - 16 September 2007, Martres-Tolosane
    .     p. 26-27

To cite this notice

Capus P., "Portrait of a child", in The sculptures of the roman villa of Chiragan, Toulouse, 2019, online <https://villachiragan.saintraymond.toulouse.fr/en/ark:/87276/a_ra_126>.