Collection record · Objects & craft
Portrait Head of C. Cornelius Gallus (?)
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated c. 30 BCE. Recorded culture or place: Egypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Roman empire (30 BCE–395 CE).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Portrait Head of C. Cornelius Gallus (?)
- Date
- c. 30 BCE
- Culture / origin
- Egypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Roman empire (30 BCE–395 CE)
- Materials and technique
- marble
- Dimensions
- Overall: 39 x 22 x 22.6 cm (15 3/8 x 8 11/16 x 8 7/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1966.20
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This highly individual portrait must have been made for a man of considerable importance. It may represent Gaius Cornelius Gallus, who lived c. 69-26 BC. After aiding Octavian in the war against Antony and Cleopatra, Gallus served as the first governor of Egypt. There he put down two rebellions, but soon fell into disgrace and exile, eventually committing suicide. The head was made to be inserted into a body, and has a flat back and top, suggesting it once wore a separately made fold of toga draped over it (in the fashion known as togatus capite velato, associated with high priests). Some scholars have suggested a later date for this portrait, perhaps in the reign of Nero or Claudius.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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