The Bust of Lucius Licinius Nepos



The Bust of Lucius Licinius Nepos

Introduction

Center is the Art Museum situated in Brentwood, California. It was established in 1997. The museum is popular for the arts, architecture and the gardens. It has a great number of pre twentieth century European sculptures, arts and paintings. This museum is equipped with the roman emperors' sculptures. The one of which is the sculpture of Bust of Lucius Licinius Nepos. Licinius Nepos is the well known figure during the sovereignty of Trajan Emperor. Nepos was the strong and brave member of a high ranking senatorial family of Roman about A.D. 100. Through the inscription, it can be identified that he was the man with the stern face and distinctive features. The bust was found with the funerary inscription that reflects his role. The bust was made in order to display in the family tomb. Licinius Nepos made the little house which is now presumed as a tomb for his ashes.

Discussion

The art of reading a portrait holds an immense importance as we have a little knowledge available about the history of the roman, but these portraits reveal the strong reflection of the self-expression of each of the emperors and the other art objects of that time period. They have a strong language which communicates their history. According to Nodelman, roman art can be described through the system of signs and symbols which projects the history, message and meanings to the spectator in order to grab his attention with an intention and objective of communicating a message to them (1975).

The profound interpretation of the portraiture of Lucius Licinius Nepos revealed about his personality and individuality. He was the high ranking senator of roman. The inscription over his bust identifies that he was a constituent of senatorial family during the supremacy of Trajan who was the Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. The image of Nepos was surprisingly realistic as well as it projects the high sense of individuality which has been interpreted through in depth analysis of portraiture of Licinius Nepos. The portraiture of Licinius Nepos was carved from the marble, and his face was appeared to be soft with high cheek bones, and crumpled brow with straight closed mouth. His portrait was made with intensive incision which reflects each of his features. It can be seen that the bust has a hollow around the eyes to make them appear deep set and which also portrays that he was in deep thinking. He has several wrinkles over his forehead and neck and also has deep line and furrows around his mouth and nose which reflect his age. The complete analysis of the portraiture of Licinius Nepos reflects that he would be thin and weak may be due to his old age. It has been analyzed from the inscription that he was highly intellectual and skilled narrator. The sculpture has the veristic quality which emphasis his age, honor and dignity. All of this reflects his long service to the state ...