A youthful emperor, forever frozen in time. This is the Hadrianus Statue. Here at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, we encounter not a grand, imposing figure, but a fragmented bust. The Hadrianus Statue, despite its missing head, tells a captivating story. The bust has resided here for over a century, acquired in 1908. Initially, it revealed very little. A cloak fastened with a fibula. A strap across the chest. How could these simple details unveil the identity of the person depicted? The cloak, a paludamentum, signifies a Roman military commander. The strap? A sword strap. The Hadrianus Statue portrays a soldier, a military leader. A crucial detail, a double sword strap twisted on the chest, linked this bust to three others. All depicting a youthful figure with curly hair and a beard. This youthful figure is Hadrian, Roman emperor from 117 to 138 AD. This specific portrait type captures Hadrian at the end of his reign, around 137-138 AD. He’s portrayed as a young, heroized general. Scientific analysis reveals the bust is made of Gӧktepe marble. A high-quality marble from Turkey, used for sculptures of the elite. A mushroom-shaped support on the back points to Athenian craftsmanship. So, the Hadrianus Statue, crafted by an Athenian sculptor from the finest marble, captures a youthful Hadrian at the end of his rule. He is immortalized as a heroic general, a testament to his legacy.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to