Bust of an Unknown Man

The deep red porphyry of the head along with the coloured marbles adds warmth and life to the carved image. The toga-like cloaks draped over tunics suggest that such busts may have been meant to represent ancient Roman generals or emperors. In the 19th century when they were in the sculpture collection of Henry Blundell at Ince Blundell Hall, near Liverpool, this bust, and WAG 6533, were thought to be portraits of two particularly cruel and grim-faced Roman consuls, Marius and his enemy Sylla.