Portrait Head of Emperor Hadrian

Curatorial Overview

“This sculpture depicts Emperor Hadrian (reigned 117–38), identifiable by his luxurious curls and cropped beard. A portrait head embodied the emperor’s authority in his absence, with distinctive hairstyles and facial features that were instantly recognizable throughout the Roman Empire. Hadrian’s beard set him apart from his clean-shaven predecessors and set a trend for imperial portraits until the early 4th century.”