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Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239.jpg)
Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239.jpg)
Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegA_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegA_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239_rear.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239_rear.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegB_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegB_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239_threequarter.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239_threequarter.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegD_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegD_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegID_L379_41_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegID_L379_41_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegID_L379_43_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegID_L379_43_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegID_L379_45_print_bw.jpg)

Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.239_NegID_L379_45_print_bw.jpg)

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Male Portrait Head

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Roman art developed from highly specific representations of individuals—such as the head of a man, displayed nearby, that was carved during the first century b.c.e.—to more schematic representations of humans, as in this male portrait head made over three hundred years later, during the reign of Constantine. This stylistic change, also found in mosaics, reflects changing philosophical ideas in Late Antiquity that stressed the value of the unseen, ideal world over the material details of the physical world.
CULTURE Roman
MEDIUM Marble
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
DATES 4th century C.E. (probably)
PERIOD Roman Period
DIMENSIONS 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER 16.239
CREDIT LINE Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Male portrait head in marble. Wide, flat face, thick features. Archaistic hair. Head made as separate piece with flat base on neck. Possibly the finial for a Hermes pillar. Condition: Surface of hair worn. Sculpture broken into two pieces through back of head and assembled. Face intact.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Roman. Male Portrait Head, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239.jpg)
IMAGE front, 16.239.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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Roman. <em>Male Portrait Head</em>, 4th century C.E. (probably). Marble, 4 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. (10.5 x 8.3 x 7.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.239. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.239.jpg)

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