Caption

Head of Menelaus from the Menelaus Carrying the Body of Patroclus group, unknown artist. Head of a bearded man wearing a helmet, with an expressive face shown by wide-open eyes and parted mouth, emphasized by chiaroscuro effects from lush locks of beard and hair emerging from under the helmet contrasted with smooth facial skin—the face of a man experiencing dramatic moments. The helmet is adorned with relief decoration depicting fantastic creatures: on each side a centaur fighting a Greek, and below on the edge a triton figurine. The sculpture is a Roman copy of the head from a Hellenistic bronze composition depicting Menelaus carrying the body of Patroclus. Menelaus, Helen's husband, first fights to retrieve the deceased's body and then carries it from the battlefield for burial. The death of Patroclus, Achilles' friend, is a pivotal moment in the Trojan War, prompting Achilles' return to battle. Theme frequently reproduced in Roman sculpture; dated to the 1st half of the 2nd century AD Hadrianic period, circa 117–138. Roman Empire; sculpture; weight 78.5 kg., The image shows a marble bust in profile on a rounded pedestal, depicting a bearded head wearing a draped cap with detailed folds; the sculpture surface is pale off-white with subtle gray veining and some darker gray spots, set against a flat medium-gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A18_471

License type

Rights managed

Available size

69.8Mb (2.4Mb) / 13.6in x 20.0in / 4067 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Head Menelaus Menelaus Carrying Body Patroclus group unknown artist bearded man wearing helmet expressive face shown wide-open eyes parted mouth emphasized chiaroscuro effects lush locks beard hair emerging under helmet contrasted smooth facial skin face man experiencing dramatic moments adorned relief decoration depicting fantastic creatures side centaur fighting Greek edge triton figurine sculpture Roman copy head Hellenistic bronze composition Menelaus carrying body Patroclus Helen's husband first fights retrieve deceased's body carries battlefield burial death Achilles friend pivotal moment Trojan War prompting Achilles return battle Theme frequently reproduced Roman sculpture dated 1st half 2nd century AD Hadrianic period circa 117–138 Roman Empire weight 78.5 kg image marble bust profile rounded pedestal bearded head wearing draped cap detailed folds sculpture surface pale off-white subtle gray veining darker gray spots set flat medium-gray background.