BUST OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
bronze
This pair of bronze busts forms a splendid celebratory pendant, evoking the continuity and majesty of Roman imperial power across the centuries. Conceived as a pair, the two sculptures capture distinct phases of Roman history: on the one hand, the youthful solemnity of the Julio-Claudian dynasty with the bust of Caesar; on the other, the resolute maturity of Septimius Severus, with an ideal reference to the wisdom of Hadrian.
The visual harmony of the pair is ensured by the use of a deep, dark patina and by an almost identical decorative apparatus: both figures wear sumptuous parade muscle cuirasses, characterized by powerful symbolism. At the centre is a leonine protome clutching a ring in its jaws – an emblem of supreme strength – flanked by the heads of Medusa, whose apotropaic value confer an aura of invincibility upon the two commanders.
The mastery of 19th-century foundries emerges in the contrast between the refined rendering of technical details – such as the circular studs, the scales of the shoulder pieces, and the rhythmically arranged pteryges – and the anatomical differentiation of the faces. While the first bust expresses a composed, almost detached determination through smooth features and a fixed forward gaze, the second conveys a more troubled, earthly authority, emphasized by the thick beard and the forehead marked by expressive lines.
Together, these works represent a perfect synthesis of the Neoclassical taste for the heroic, offering a monumental and cohesive vision of Roman history.
Naples, 19th century
cm. 65 h
