Portraiture on Roman historical relief up to the age of Septimius Severus

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to bring together and study all the portraits, Imperial and otherwise caved on a selection of the most important Roman commemorative reliefs from the earliest surviving specimen to the reign of Septimius Severus. The reliefs are examined singly in chronological order in the main section of the thesis. In order to establish more objectivity which of the figures deserve to be considered as portraits, a survey is made, wherever possible, of all the figures. These are examined in the light of a set of criteria laid down in the introduction, such as a function, position and individualized features. Characterization and individualization in facial features are emphasized by comparison with the standardised facial types of the non-portrait figures. Wherever portrait identification have been previously proposed, their validity is investigated. In those cases where identifications are already established by means of other existing portraits on coins and in the round, comparisons are made in order to detect which of the known types are followed and to underline the iconographic, stylistic and technical differences. Controversial datings of the reliefs and the monuments to which they belong are also discussed against any chronological data provided by their portraiture. The survey is preceded by an introduction which sets down the method of investigation and the criteria used in order to distinguish portrait from non-portrait figures. In the conclusion these figures are classified and their development outlined. A discussion of a number of problems emerging from the study of single reliefs is also included.