I am going to answer to the first option you had given us for this post
These two portraits are very interesting in how they wanted to relay their messages they seemed to try to give their people. First off my more favorite one of the two is Bust of Commodus as Hercules (BC) because it had a very peaceful message to it though it was initially a little intimidating. The intimidation was probably to show his enemies that he was not going to fool around with them and that his rule was nice and good but still a little stiff to get what he wanted for his people. If one were to look more into detail on this picture it is shown that it seems he is handing his people apples in his left arm to show kindness and that he doesn’t just care about power but toward his people to flourish and grow. I translated what seems to be a lion or beast’s mouth/face on the top of his head as a hood to be a sign of strength that he had killed it so he had the power to rule over his people. If one is to translate it though it had to be looked into details, as it is not easily interpreted right off the bat.
The next portrait being the Head of Caracalla (HC) was quite the face to look upon. This portrait/sculpture was very aggressive if not serious as well. It doesn’t look like there was any room for kindness toward whoever was looking upon it as the eyebrows were very much tilted downward toward his nose to show his feeling. Obviously it was a portrait to show a lot of power and scare the pants off his enemies as the enormous detail put into how the wrinkles were positioned across the face along with how the hair was designed as well. If I had to make a guess this was more toward his enemies but one idea I had gotten would be to point toward immigrants that he has no room for play and that his place is serious for no foul play. Unlike BC this one is very easily understood.
It's good to point out that Commodus' symbols are not easily interpreted right off-the-bat. Commodus was relying on his audience to understand the symbolism and mythology surrounding the god Hercules. Without that context, the portrait doesn't have the same meaning. Caracalla, on the other hand, does not limit himself to the use of symbols for his propagandistic statement. I would say that his direct stare and furrowed brow can be fairly universally understood as a sign of intimidation and ferocity, even today.
ReplyDelete-Prof. Bowen
You had a different reaction to these two busts than I did. Maybe discuss the vanity behind Commodus, and why that changed the initial reaction to the bust. You did a good job analyzing both sculptures and describing them, but maybe learn a little bit more about the leaders to know what they accomplished and what kind of person they truly were to better understand their sculptures.
ReplyDeleteI had not looked at the Hercules piece as displaying a good perception along with a hard ruler. I think your idea of this is well thought out and is an interesting way of looking at it, I just initially thought it was to show power and confidence in himself.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the Commodus as Hercules and I agree that lion skin thing represented a sing of strength and power to rule over the people. Commodus sculpture has not many details in his body but by using other stuffs it could be look great. Also I have opinion about the Head of Caracalla. There is no space for kindness. His eyes and eyebrows look more powerful and detail with his face has lots of meaning.
ReplyDeleteI like that you mentioned the lion's face on the Bust of Commodus. It's interesting to me that lions are used as symbols of power throughout so many historical periods of art. I also wonder what about this bust conveyed peacefulness to you. It's a valid perspective and I would have liked to to read your thoughts about that!
ReplyDelete