Légende

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 the contrast between lush locks of beard and hair emerging from under the helmet and the smooth skin of the face—the visage 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 with the body of Patroclus. Menelaus, Helen's husband, is depicted retrieving and carrying Patroclus's body after his death—a key episode in the Trojan War. Commonly reproduced in Roman sculpture. Dated to the 1st half of the 2nd century AD reign of Hadrian, 117–138. Roman Empire; sculpture; weight 78.5 kg., A stone sculpture of a head shown against a solid gray background, carved from pale off-white marble with areas of light gray veining and subtle darker spots; the figure wears a tall, rounded helmet or headdress with sculpted raised decorations and flowing forms, and the face features deep-set, hollowed eyes, a pronounced nose, and a layered beard or mouth area with carved textures; there are sculpted ornamental motifs along the lower edges of the helmet and near the cheeks, and the overall surface shows irregularities, chips, and weathered texture in shades of off-white, light gray, and small darker gray accents.

Crédit

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Notre référence

LZT26A18_477

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

72.7Mo (2.5Mo) / 35.8cm x 50.8cm / 4233 x 6000 (300dpi)

Mots clés

Head Menelaus Menelaus Carrying Body Patroclus group unknown artist bearded man wearing helmet expressive face shown wide-open eyes parted mouth emphasized chiaroscuro effects contrast lush locks beard hair emerging under smooth skin visage man experiencing dramatic moments adorned relief decoration depicting fantastic creatures side centaur fighting Greek edge triton figurine sculpture Roman copy head Hellenistic bronze composition body Patroclus Helen's husband depicted retrieving carrying Patroclus's body death key episode Trojan War Commonly reproduced Roman sculpture Dated 1st half 2nd century AD reign Hadrian 117–138 Roman Empire weight 78.5 kg stone sculpture head shown solid gray background carved pale off-white marble areas light gray veining subtle darker spots figure wears tall rounded helmet headdress sculpted raised decorations flowing forms features deep-set hollowed eyes pronounced nose layered beard mouth area carved textures sculpted ornamental motifs lower edges near cheeks surface irregularities chips weathered texture shades off-white light gray small darker gray accents.