Male Bust

Portrait bust of a Roman with balteus (sword belt, worn over the shoulder) and paludamentum (cloak or cape fastened at one shoulder). This is a life-size bust which represents an old man wearing two typical military attributes: the balteus and the paludamentum, fastened on the left shoulder by a fibula. He has a bony face with loose skin and sagging lips, in veristic style. His hairstyle is a variation on the ‘Gradus’ style, with long front hair locks arranged in horizontally crimped waves. At the back the hair is cut short and is arranged in tousled rows of short locks. The nose, chin, right ear and lower part of bust and base have been restored, and impact marks are visible on the head and bust.