bust of a man with thick curly hair, beard under his chin and moustache; draping garment with round brooch at PR shoulder; unfinished concave back

Bust of Emperor Hadrian as a Young Man, c. 1590

This bust, with its dense, curly hair and straplike beard and mustache, is a Renaissance interpretation of Roman sculptural portraits believed to represent the emperor Hadrian (reigned 117–38 CE). A great patron of the arts, Hadrian was celebrated in the Renaissance as one of Rome’s “five good emperors.” A famous admirer of Greek culture, he wore a beard and mustache to fashion himself as a Greek philosopher. His example made facial hair chic once again among the Roman elite, and beards remained all the rage for almost a century.

Details
Title
Bust of Emperor Hadrian as a Young Man
Artist Life
1556–1613
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2010.10
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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bust of a man with thick curly hair, beard under his chin and moustache; draping garment with round brooch at PR shoulder; unfinished concave back