Sposoby czytania rzymskich portretów starców z okresu republiki

Abstract

The paper considers Roman Republican portrait sculptures that consists mainly of the images of the old men, depicted in a stern manner, with gloomy and graceless faces. These so called veristic images, manipulating particular elements of physiognomy and character of portrayed people, were supposed to carry a particular message, to play desired and expected political and propaganda roles. The paper reveals various attempts made to extend interpretative interest beyond formal and stylistic interpretations of these old men portraits and to look at these visual representations in a wider cultural and political context of their times.