Roman Emperor

A rough-textured bust shows an older man with a heavy brow, deeply furrowed cheeks, and a set, downturned mouth. His arms are folded across the chest beneath heavy, rumpled drapery, and the black-and-white photograph emphasizes the pitted surface.

Look closer: The hands are tucked beneath the folds of drapery at the lower chest, easy to overlook against the texture.

Artist

Unknown

Date

probably late 15th century

Medium

Marble

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

1640 × 1968 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck, in memory of the late James J. Rorimer, 1966